Humans have, for millennia, worn earrings for a multitude of reasons, including for aesthetic purposes, for political statements, to indicate status, and/or to relay a message. This year, the Earring Show will feature over 120 pairs of earrings – each imbued with meaning. In this post, we take a look at some of the themes we saw in the submissions this year. All content has been taken from the artist statements and bios submitted by the participating artists. Of course, this list is not exhaustive and we encourage you to check out all the artist’s stories online.
Social Dynamics
Sami Dalby’s submission is inspired by the desire to view the world and the current social landscape through a feminine lens. “I wanted to interrupt a narrative that I’m hearing and reading every day and shift focus to a different viewpoint or experience” says Dalby. “I hope that people will interact with my pieces and experience a message or feeling that is different from the widely accepted messaging on social and other media. I want to lift the veil on the simplistic approach that uses conflict, competition, oppression, fear and so-called populism and instead bring attention to another way of understanding and being in this world – one that includes harmony, unity, resilience and wisdom.” To convey these themes, Dalby has submitted three works depicting natural or botanical images – each in a different style.
“I hope that people will interact with my pieces and experience a message or feeling that is different from the widely accepted messaging on social and other media.”
Social Dynamics
Hiva Barikani is a multidisciplinary artist that uses traditional metalsmithing techniques. Her earrings, titled, “In One Ear, Out The Other” symbolizes the phenomenon where someone hears something then quickly forgets it, or fails to pay attention to it because it isn’t considered important. The left earring depicts a character shouting the word WISDOM, though the letters are slightly scrambled. Instead of taking the time to interpret or seek clarification, the character on the right earring discards the words, conveying a sense of fleeting attention or disregard for the message. This theme is particularly relevant in today’s polarized political landscape, where facts and wisdom often fall on indifferent ears.
Artistry and Personal Culture
Viyan’s earrings for the show speak to themes of migration, and in this case, “in-betweeness” (between two or more geographical places). She writes that she has created pieces that illustrate a state of disorientation, not quite belonging, and hovering between destinations without a place to land. Her earrings seek to look at the idea of “constraint”, and reimagine that space as one of possibility. Her personal experiences and life history manifest poignantly and beautifully in her work.
Kathleen Sahtunkinish belongs to the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and with time, has found her unique artistic voice using a blend of Caddo motifs and contemporary jewellery design. She learned to hand dig, process, and sculpt clay the way her ancestors did. The clay she used in her earrings for the Show were hand dug and processed in East Texas (Caddo ancestral homeland). In Caddo art, the lifecycle is often depicted with acorns and leaves, which can be seen in the earrings she submitted for The Earring Show.
The Ocean
Sherry Cordova’s stunning collection is inspired from her time scuba diving. She channels her experiences into jewellery that conjures vivid memories while preserving the integrity of sea life and coastal landscapes. She intricately deconstructs and transforms hand sketches of microscopic marine creatures into layered masterpiece earrings. Her work seeks to highlight the impact of human activities on our oceans. In the theme of oceans but from another angle, emerging artist Alex Block created her “Bubble Bait” earrings through inspiration from the plastics in the ocean and the issues that this situation causes. They write that sea creatures often mistake plastic waste as food, causing them to suffocate or inhale toxic chemicals. Melissa Hudson’s collection is “inspired by sea foam, brutalism and cutesy protuberances”; these motifs are delightfully seen in each of her designs.
Personal History
Rui Gong created a collection for the 2025 Earring Show that drew inspiration from both the beauty of nature and also her personal memories. Her earrings with a lotus design came from her childhood memories growing up in a southeastern city in China. The ‘Whispering Petals’ earrings are inspired by both her grandfather, and tribute to the orchid’s symbolic and historical meanings. Each of her three earrings in the show represent the fusion of past and present, honouring treasured memories while embracing new journeys.
