From Advertising to Artistry: My Journey in Jewelry Making

My background is not typical for exhibiting jewelers. For many years, I worked in the advertising industry, introducing my clients’ visions for products or services to the public through my skills in language, imagery, and expression. These skills were honed through university courses in semantics and semiotics, communications and film, marketing, and presentation. Additionally, this training and experience affirmed and clarified my desire to control my own appearance and perspective. Never content with the readily available jewelry, I had always considered creating my own pieces for myself and friends.

The opportunity to pursue this desire came when I moved for work from Uruguay to Central America. In a small town on the shore of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, I found a mentor and teacher in Reinhard Zoels. A German émigré and former engineer, he taught me the fundamental concepts of jewelry making and metalwork. I later settled in Oregon, where I continued my learning through focused courses and workshops in an environment that rewards individuality and uncommon paths to creativity.

I am intrigued by the idea of adorning the body with character-objects integrated into the intimate identity of the wearer. My process starts with a concept image or a volumetric idea, developing into a piece that finally appears simple and minimal. This minimalism is both technical and formal, though I sometimes deviate during the making process, allowing something entirely different to emerge, imbued with a romantic or stubborn obsession.

Geometric balance, objects held in tension, and kinetic potential are recurring themes that recreate the space inhabited by my works and feed the curiosity of wearers and viewers alike. I enjoy treating metal like clay in the hands of a sculptor, bringing the idea directly from the metal to the final execution. I work mainly with silver and gold and incorporate stones when the idea dictates it; other times, I include inspiring objects found in nature. My pieces become statements of clarity, purpose, and formalism for those who wear them. They adapt to their owners’ diverse styles through minimal yet universal truths.