Sol
(they/them)
“I embrace the idea that jewelry can be used as a symbol of one’s identity. I am a queer, undocumented person of color living in the U.S. I center the experiences of my communities as a form of empowerment, visibility, and representation. My pieces sit at the intersection of jewelry and the language around identity politics. They decentralize cis-white-heteronormativity and question systems and institutions which have oppressed our communities.
Jewelry and what we express with it can be a way to tug at the edges of what’s considered ‘normal’ and instead center what’s in the margins- empowering and celebrating the ‘Other.’”
Nanette Pengelley
she/her
Juror’s Choice
Our jurors for [queerphoria] vol. 2: Adorned Serenity each chose an artist’s work that they wanted to highlight from the exhibition.
“My juror's choice is Nanette Pengelley's piece, ‘I am my own safe space.’ It is a customisable multi- sensory experience that holds a profound interplay between personal empowerment and community responsibility. The intricately thought out music box mechanism transforms the piece from adornment to a vessel that can transport the wearer to a place where they feel truly seen and safe.
Her exploration of community safety adds another layer to her work. As she engages with the communities that surround her as a queer/black/woman, she not only gathers insights, but also uses shared experiences to inform her work. Her process becomes a dynamic force, weaving together the diverse threads of her communities’ stories. In Pengelley’s piece, something beautiful emerges at the intersection of creativity and community responsibility. It acknowledges that our expressions can transcend individuality and can be a powerful conduit for our collective safety, and presents tools for our collective liberation.”
-Sol
