I create handmade one of a kind and production jewelry based on natural forms and using materials found in nature and other found objects.





The intent of the work I produce is to challenge Western society’s perception of what is visually pleasing and provoke a reaction out of the grotesque. Like beauty, the grotesque transcends one prescribed definition. It is not merely something that disgusts us or that which we find unattractive; it is the unexplainable and the unclassifiable used to provoke a reaction. By combining the grotesque with formal and traditional expectations of beauty I push the boundaries of what is acceptable within the realm of decorative and ornamental jewelry and objects. These expectations include the realm of jewelry and wearables as well as their materials, and instances of beauty found within humanity. Much of this work is directly related to the body in terms of physical deformities and afflictions, as well as the natural exudations of our bodies. Working directly with these materials of the body or directly referencing the physicality of these anomalies allows me to explore how the grotesque can allude to beauty.
Jewelry is used as a way of adorning and beautifying the body. It can be argued that jewelry is worn as a visual, aesthetic, outward extension of the internal desire for perfection. I use jewelry as a vehicle to amplify taboo aspects of the body. It is my aim that these pieces will be viewed with a redefined idea of beauty in relation to body deformities and afflictions within the realm of traditional jewelry. By creating this work and exposing it to the public, I hope to plant a seed of change in the perception of beauty.