Wyatt NP
he/him
Stockton, NJ, USA
Wyatt NP is a metalsmith, and jeweler working out of rural NJ. He graduated from Tyler School of Art with a BFA in Metalsmithing in 2021. He worked at Peters Valley School of Craft managing their Fine Metals studio as a coordinator and teaches at other craft schools. NP grew up in a small rural town working with horses his whole life. In addition to continuing his practice in his home studio he works on several farms focusing on horsemanship and livestock management. The culture of farming and agriculture heavily impact the work he makes in his practice. NP creates most of his work in the form of champlevé enameled belt buckles; a type of body adornment tied to both rural identity and masculinity. One of his main passions is agriculture and the perseverance of farmers over generations as the land, climate and people change.
“Farming is a place where people struggling to feel good in their bodies can feel nourished by working with the soil and the earth. By continuing to break the preconceived notions and norms that are placed upon queer and transgender bodies, as makers and rural dwellers, we can begin to feel connected to a part of something larger that unites us. Having the ability and agency to wear pieces like the ones I create that oftentimes feels reserved for another demographic, one who typically holds homophobic and transphobic beliefs is an act of resilience.”
How does your work relate to the theme transformation— How does the work translate joy into strength?
"There is power in jewelry that brings a transformative aspect to your appearance and can reflect who you are and how you wish to present in the world. To me, belt buckles are an extension of myself as a farmer. As someone in the agricultural community from a young age; its a form of self expression and pride in what we do. That pride can translate to affirming one's identity and gender. Fabricating these pieces is not only my livelihood but also a way to exist between the worlds of the conservative ranching culture who admire my work for its imagery and the queer individuals that guided me through the early stages of my transition. Historically, belt buckles taken in the context of a rural setting equate to achievements and status. A status typically defined by one's ability to perform a task imperative to ranching by completing them quickly and capably. For men like myself, the act of living, surviving and existing in a society that alienates us is an act of winning. In this piece I see celebration and perseverance. When conditions become rocky, it's important to keep trucking along, believing in yourself and supporting others while riding out the tough times and holding on."
Anything else you would like to share about this work?
This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
"In this work I utilize a variety of techniques such as champleve enameling and traditional bench work. The imagery I invoke is heavily influenced by the rural American wilderness and impact the agricultural revolution had on traditional farming practices. In these pieces, I depict my own characterizations of narration and storytelling through folklore often associated with western and rural imagery by translating my illustrations into jewelry, namely belt buckle designs. There can be more recognition and appreciation for queer and rural identities by recontextualizing these narrations into wearable jewelry for utility, enjoyment, expression and heritage."
"The Roper", Champleve Enamel on Copper, brass findings, 3.5"x 2.5", 2024