Following graduation, Mark Chee first worked as a finisher for Julius Gans' Southwest Art and Crafts shop in Santa Fe.  There he managed to save enough from his $5 weekly earnings to buy the few simple tools he would use all his life.  He learned quickly and became an accomplished smith and jeweler.  From Gans' shop, he did bench work for Frank Patania's Thunderbird Shop, then moved to Al Packard's on the Plaza in Santa Fe.  For a while he also did work for the Wooden Indian in Embudo, Colorado.

In 1946 Mark Chee won 1st Prize for his jewelry at the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup, New Mexico.

Known for beautiful, substantial work with ingot silver, stamp decorated and set with only the very best turquoise, Mr. Chee was active from the 1930's through the 1960's.  His traditional designs reflected his culture and the beauty he saw all around him.

In 2002 Chee's work was shown in Jewels of the Southwest, an exhibition of the very best artists in their fields.  This was proof that Mark Chee and his art will live on through time, bringing his culture into each new decade, with a consistent and persistent relevance.