Max Ramsey
he/him
Simpsonville, SC, USA
Max Ramsey, the creative force behind Aconite & Silver, is a transgender metalsmith. Graduating from the Fine Arts Center in Greenville, SC, in 2014, Max further honed his craft, earning an Associate of Fine Art from Greenville Tech in 2017.
“In my work as a metalsmith, I draw inspiration from the natural world, crafting 'western wear' infused with organic beauty. By using materials like stones and stamps sourced from Indigenous artisans, I pay homage to their heritage and craftsmanship as the original 'western' jewelers. My pieces, like bandana slides, reflect a fusion of rugged elegance and reverence for nature, inviting wearers to connect with the earth's timeless beauty. I put intentionality behind every material I choose, and try to make a story for every piece.”
What does being queer mean to you in relation to your material choices? Is it something you consider?
“I don't think my being queer typically has any influence on materials I choose. Occasionally I'll find pride composite stones and I will consider them, and that would be influenced by my being queer. But otherwise most of my material choices are based on how ethically I can source said material, and how can I honor the Indigenous American community with my material choices.."
"Darby", Copper, peach amazonian, turquoise, 3" x 2", 2023Is the work queer because the maker is queer, or is it queer because the subject matter is queer?
“I think that fully depends on the piece, but typically I would say that the work is queer because of the subject matter. Often queer artists are going to choose to create queer subject matter. But in my case, most of my subject matter is inspired by the person I imagine wearing the piece (if I know who it's going to like in a custom ordered piece) or is inspired by nature."
Anything else you would like to share about this work? This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
“This piece was made for a local queer singer, Darby Wilcox. She is a 'country' pop singer who puts emphasis on body positivity and caring for people in the community. I chose Peach Amazonian for the throat Chakra and anxiety aiding properties it is believed to have so as to help her with any stage jitters and help her speak her truth."