ZULA is an art jeweller and activator who combines organic casting with precious metals, stones, and acrylic. Her pieces and activations are designed to deepen your connection to the Earth, the Cosmos, and your truest Self.
Born in Warsaw, Poland, ZULA currently resides on the unceded Coast Salish Territory known as Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Could you tell us briefly what you make?
I design and make nature-inspired jewellery in silver, copper, bronze, and gold. I create jewellery directly using branches, roots, and leaves from nature by casting them in precious metal, adding the magic of gemstones and benevolent galactic rays. I create jewellery as reminders of our connection to Nature and the Cosmic wisdom that we hold within us.
What inspired you to make your pieces, or how, conceptually, did your work come to be?
I am an intuitive jeweller, building a bridge of reverent connection between humans, Nature, and the Cosmos. I am a person who has a deep love of nature and acknowledges the healing power of the natural and cosmic worlds.
I make art jewellery that encapsulates archetypal stories with each collection I create. I’m inspired by deep questions within myself, beauty, the forms in Nature, and the Wisdom and teachings that everything around us holds. I’m very interested in creating worlds and realms wherein which my jewellery resides, where it’s worn on a certain character, a certain world that I’ve created, like my Ancient Future collection.
I make jewellery because I love beauty. I love creating with my hands, and I like to hang out in small realms. When I work, I feel like I’m sitting in a bubble, in a small little world, a realm within which I’m creating. Things get very microscopic and small. This is where I like to hang out. I find myself even going on nature walks and discovering the forest within the moss or the architecture within patches of grass or lichen.
Ultimately, I love exploring the inner realms of Wonder within myself, and the magical little worlds that can be held in the hand.
Has your work evolved over time, if so, what has that looked like?
My work is diverse and looks very different depending on the materials I work with and the collection or idea I’m exploring.
The through-line in my work is about discovering and keeping in reverence of the places of exploration within. The places of learning, of humbling, of loving, of learning how to protect ourselves. Ultimately, it’s all about being a better human so we can be better for the people around us, ourselves, and because of this, take care of the Earth.
I explore pieces that would be called costume jewellery using acrylic, create sculptures that incorporate the body, everyday silver jewellery, wedding bands and engagement rings in silver and gold, all the way to fine jewellery made of gold, diamonds, and gemstones.
Are there ideas, values, beliefs, or concepts that your work communicates? Could you tell us a bit more about that?
As a seeker and as a person that’s trying to be a better person in the world, my work invites the wearer to do the same, to take a moment to adorn themselves in a ritualistic way. They’re invited as they put on their jewelry into a sort of meditation or remembrance of the qualities represented by that jewellery.
For example, if you’re putting on a piece of jewelry from the ROOT collection, you’re invited to think of grounding. So perhaps when you’re putting on your earrings with the root as you’re adorning yourself, you’re thinking of being grounded, of letting roots grow out of the bottoms of your feet or grow a long tail out beyond your tail bone, deep into the Earth, connecting with the centre of the Earth, giving you a firm sense of connectedness to this planet and the support it can have for you. With that energy, you can walk into your day grounded and supported.
All my work invites the wearer to spend some time in their imagination, to connect to the wisdom of the piece that they’re wearing, connecting to the deep knowingness that they have within themselves, and having this jewellery helping them articulate those qualities within themselves.
What would you say to emerging or young craft artists?
My advice for young craft artists is to explore your own interests and realms. Don’t get caught up in trends, and spend time working on your craft without having too many long breaks, just keep working your craft. On the side, study marketing so you can get your work out into the world and be seen if that’s what you wish for yourself.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I particularly love working on custom pieces for others. I love listening to people’s stories of their own monumental moments, their milestones, their moments of “Aha!” and personal symbologies.
While listening to these personal moments, I have images that come to me, weaving all these elements together into geometries that are foundations for their jewellery. It’s a delicious place to design from. I welcome custom jewellery commissions where we can go deep into story and create one-of-a-kind pieces from that space.
You can contact me at info(at)zulajewelry.com
