marlene true

What is jewelry?

As a child, I found magic in my grandmother’s jewelry box — each piece a tangible link to family members I had never met. Old photographs told their stories in black and white, but holding a well-worn ring or an heirloom brooch made their history feel personal and alive.

The jewelry I create is a meditative exploration of nature and place, deeply inspired by the lush beauty and expressive energy of Key West. This body of work draws from the flora and fauna of the tropics, as well as the hidden pathways and vibrant gardens that fill the landscape with color, texture and contrast. To capture these layered experiences, I work with sterling silver in combination with repurposed tin cans, blending organic forms with industrial materials. The vibrant patterns and colors of the tin echo the beauty found in nature, while their history — once packaging, now reimagined — adds another dimension of storytelling. I don’t seek to replicate what I see — I aim to capture the essence of experience, evoking the connection and emotion that place inspires.