CAMEO IS AN ONGOING SERIES FEATURING CANADIAN JEWELLERY ARTISTS. HERE, THEY SHARE THEIR LATEST THOUGHTS AND INSIGHTS, AND GIVE US A PEEK INTO THEIR PRACTICE.
Photo by the artist
My path to jewellery was anything but straight. After graduating from NSCAD, I worked with fibre, paper, and found objects, driven by a fascination with the sculptural possibilities of materials. That fascination eventually led me to jewellery, a form that blends sculpture with the endless possibilities of the human body as a canvas. When I attended my first SNAG conference and experienced art jewellery at its finest, I knew I was hooked.
How did you find your way to contemporary jewellery?
For me, the connection between the piece and the person wearing it really matters. There’s this quiet little conversation that happens the moment you put on jewellery. I’m always thinking about the back of the piece, the part only the wearer gets to see, and I try to make it special, like a secret just for them. At the same time, a piece of jewellery can reach out to the world. It might catch someone’s eye, spark a conversation, or give the wearer a small moment to pause and reflect, all without saying a word.
What role does the body play in your work?
What material are you currently obsessed with and why?
Right now I’m experimenting with linen and silk organza. I love how malleable these fibres are and their ability to create three-dimensional forms. I’m trying to bring together the strength of metal with the softness of fibre, and I really like how those two materials interact.
My studio is a mix of both. Sometimes total silence, sometimes inspired chaos. When I’m working on processes I’m comfortable with, ones that don’t require a lot of detail or concentration, I love listening to audiobooks or music. When I’m deep in designing or problem-solving mode, I need total silence to really hear my own thoughts.
Your studio: total silence or inspired chaos?
Monika Urbaniak, Thread Lightly, copper, recycled cotton fabric, beads, thread, recycled buttons, 2025, photo by the artist
Monika Urbaniak, 1000 Memories, burnt velum, 925 silver, kelp, 2024, photo by the artist
Can you tell us about a technical challenge that you have overcome and how you were able to resolve it?
One of my Canadian art jewellery mentors, Chantel Gushue, once inspired me with the phrase: “Make a better pin back and you could rule the world.” The brooch is one of my favourite forms of expression, and I’ve been consistently working on improving this seemingly simple mechanism. Just recently, I practiced a more complex type of catch, and after two days of effort, I finally heard that satisfying click when the pin locked into place. The devil is definitely in the details.
I’m currently working toward my MFA in Craft Media at Alberta University of the Arts in Calgary, with graduation planned for May 2026. I’m excited for my final year and the chance to dive even deeper into the possibilities of art jewellery.
What is coming up next for you?
Published: 2025/8/25
