Glitzy Bitch Bird God/Goddess They/Them, 2026

My artwork is heavily influenced by myths, fairy tales, and ancient religious artifacts, with a focus on narrative and figurative elements. I believe storytelling helps us find order and meaning in our lives, and I draw inspiration from images of past cultures.

When I look at objects, I often see them upside down, sideways, or as parts of a sculpture that has yet to be made. A story yet to be told. As soon as I saw the finger jewellery in the Bling Bucket, I knew they were horns for Lilith. The gaudy rhinestone earring was a beak for a bird. The oval or circular rhinestone and pearl brooches were eyes for Sherri.

These pieces are part of a series of dolls I have been creating since the beginning of 2020. The ‘doll’ becomes a vehicle to speak of timely issues that affect us all, such as drug abuse, gender identity, and elder enablement.

Since this series began, I have had to reconsider my attitude towards materials. For decades, as an art jeweller, I dismissed costume jewellery, beads and mass-produced charms as holding no value. But as I combed through the jewellery boxes of family and friends who had passed on, I was moved to view these objects in a new light. My contempt was tempered by a window into an aspect of my loved ones that was previously unknown to me.