Op Art Half Round Necklace

Bio:

Jennifer Merchant is a studio jewelry artist based in Minneapolis, MN. A lover of jewelry since birth, she discovered metalsmithing in high school and went on to earn a BFA in Metals and Jewelry from the Savannah College of Art and design. Upon graduating and moving back to her hometown, Jennifer no longer had access to a fully equipped studio. Making do with what she had, Jennifer began experimenting with alternative materials and developed the layered acrylic technique for which she is known today. Merchant has been a full-time artist since 2010 and has exhibited her work across the United States as well as Zurich, Switzerland. Merchant’s jewelry has been published in national magazines such as American Craft and Ornament, and has been exhibited at museums including the Museum of Art and Design in NYC, SCAD Museum of Art in GA and the Racine Art Museum in WI.

Artist Statement:

Inspired by pop art, op art and geometric form I create sculptural jewelry that is modern and fashionable. Exploring transparency and refraction through the layered acrylic process, I create graphic illusions that change as a piece is viewed from different angles. Intriguing optical properties draw the eye while bold forms flatter the body. Each one of a kind piece is sculpted from a unique layered slab of prints, metal leaf and solid acrylic sheet. Using pages torn from art books I meticulously select patterns and colors to create intriguing compositions between the layers of each piece. I tear out pages that catch my eye, organize them into dynamic groupings and then layer them between the acrylic. Employing metalsmithing and woodworking tools and techniques I create expressive wearable objects that draw attention to the body.