Ashley Buchanan

"By combining iconic silhouettes and common jewelry motifs with hand-cut sheet metal and powder-coated finishes, I am able to reference the history of jewelry with a clean aesthetic."

Ashley Buchanan focuses on image, pattern, and decoration in her work, utilizing the silhouette to reference historical jewelry and ornamentation. The repetition of iconic imagery is important in her work, allowing her to create pieces that are new yet familiar.

Drawing on common jewelry motifs and iconic imagery, Buchanan individually hand cuts silhouettes from sheet metal using a traditional jeweler's saw. She then applies color in a limited palette using the industrial process of powder coating. In this method of painting, metal is electrostatically covered with dry pigment, then cured under heat to create a durable, uniform finish.

Jewelry artist Ashley Buchanan received her BFA in jewelry and metalsmithing from the University of Georgia. She has also studied at the Penland School of Crafts and participated in various symposiums and conferences around the country.