contemporary jewelry that celebrates earth's elements and the natural landscapes of the west.

Jewelry Design

I am a lover of design, the natural world, organic forms, and the way things feel. I am interested in making jewelry that evokes a sense of timelessness. My work is where the raw and imperfect meet the more refined and uniform. I am drawn to the simplicity of contemporary shapes, semi-precious stones, and earthy colors.

Made with responsibly sourced materials, my jewelry highlights contemporary shapes and hand cut slices of stone from the American west. I strive to celebrate earth's elements with a strong focus on supply chain transparency in using Fairmined and Recycled metals, reclaimed diamonds, and stones sourced directly from individual miners. Raw yet refined, the signature elements of my work include metal fringe that allows for joyful movement, and earthy semi precious stones, hand cut by me in my studio. Born and raised in Colorado, with lots of time spent outdoors, my collections are inspired by the shapes and colors of the canyon walls, river beds, mountain peaks and forests from the landscapes that surround me.

Each piece is designed by me, hand fabricated or carved out of wax then cast by a small casting houses in Colorado and New York. All inlay work is done in house by me.

My mission is to create a brand that celebrates environmental stewardship and self-acceptance. I am proud of this mission and my desire to connect with others around positive solutions, like challenging the notion of what our culture considers “beautiful”, and decreasing our environmental impact with using recycled metals, clear sourcing of materials, and promoting non-toxic studio practices. I will continue to support and collaborate with other progressive artists and non-profits who focus on funding and elevating conversations of social justice, food justice, and gender politics.

Story

My love for jewelry started when my mom gifted me my great grandma’s turquoise and sterling silver ring when I was 16. As other pieces of jewelry were misplaced or grew out of style, this ring has never left my right middle finger. It has become my ultimate talisman, as it links me to my ancestors, and holds a sense of sacredness and beauty in the present. I see adornment as an extension of one’s self, a tool to use as a form of expression, protection and inspiration.

Avery Lee was born in 2016 after my Dad's quick and sudden passing. After his death, I was looking for a place to land and feel alive alongside my process of deep grief, so I decided to try something completely new and signed up for a metalsmithing class. I unexpectedly fell madly in love. The cathartic experience of hammering fine metals and the focus needed to hold a torch steadily in my hand, became my therapy and a joyful space to integrate the emotions I was feeling during my grief process. The business was born naturally as making jewelry became the only thing I wanted to focus on.