Lorena Angulo
Milagro Heart Tree of Life, 2022
Bronze, coral and turquoise beads, brass wire, and stainless steel wire
4 7/8 x 3 7/8 x 3/4 inches
Racine Art Museum, Windgate Foundation Contemporary Craft Acquisition Grant
Photography: Jon Bolton
RAM Showcase: Focus on Adornment
December 11, 2024 – November 22, 2025
at RAM’s Wustum Museum
Contemporary art jewelry often investigates cultural, social, personal, and environmental topics. Distinguished by a vocabulary of diverse media from precious metals to recycled objects, it also reflects artists’ interests in material exploration and notions of wearability. RAM’s holdings in art jewelry—with examples from artists from across the globe at varying stages in their careers—have grown rapidly.
Artistic self-consciousness often drives those who make work considered “art jewelry,” though this is just part of a much larger conversation. Makers explore a wide variety of issues, materials, and themes, while utilizing media—both precious and non-precious—that encourage the exploration of jewelry and its history. In this selection of seven artists of color from RAM’s collection, the emphasis is on materials not traditionally anticipated for use in jewelry, such as polymer, safety pins, and silicone.
While there are theoretically no limitations to the materials any artist can use, there have historically been barriers to some artists of color in the United States—indirect or otherwise—to access tools, materials, or studio spaces. At this moment, more and more efforts are being made to support and encourage the work of artists of color while drawing attention to existing work.
Following the solo exhibition of Nicole Acosta, which featured photographs of people of the global majority wearing hoop earrings, this exhibition emphasizes an idea that RAM often explores: how adornment can go beyond decoration to become a symbolic and layered space for meaning.
While some of the work in this exhibition has been shown in the galleries at RAM, all of these pieces are making their debut at Wustum, and a few have not yet been on display in either space.
More About the Exhibition
Artists in the Exhibition
Lorena Angulo, Peter Chang, Tina Fung Holder, Donna Kato, Seulgi Kwon, Angie Reano Owen, and Kee-Ho Yuen
RAM Showcase: Focus on Adornment
December 11, 2024 – November 22, 2025
at RAM’s Wustum Museum
Lorena Angulo
Milagro Heart Tree of Life, 2022
Bronze, coral and turquoise beads, brass wire, and stainless steel wire
4 7/8 x 3 7/8 x 3/4 inches
Racine Art Museum, Windgate Foundation Contemporary Craft Acquisition Grant
Photography: Jon Bolton
Contemporary art jewelry often investigates cultural, social, personal, and environmental topics. Distinguished by a vocabulary of diverse media from precious metals to recycled objects, it also reflects artists’ interests in material exploration and notions of wearability. RAM’s holdings in art jewelry—with examples from artists from across the globe at varying stages in their careers—have grown rapidly.
Artistic self-consciousness often drives those who make work considered “art jewelry,” though this is just part of a much larger conversation. Makers explore a wide variety of issues, materials, and themes, while utilizing media—both precious and non-precious—that encourage the exploration of jewelry and its history. In this selection of seven artists of color from RAM’s collection, the emphasis is on materials not traditionally anticipated for use in jewelry, such as polymer, safety pins, and silicone.
While there are theoretically no limitations to the materials any artist can use, there have historically been barriers to some artists of color in the United States—indirect or otherwise—to access tools, materials, or studio spaces. At this moment, more and more efforts are being made to support and encourage the work of artists of color while drawing attention to existing work.
Following the solo exhibition of Nicole Acosta, which featured photographs of people of the global majority wearing hoop earrings, this exhibition emphasizes an idea that RAM often explores: how adornment can go beyond decoration to become a symbolic and layered space for meaning.
While some of the work in this exhibition has been shown in the galleries at RAM, all of these pieces are making their debut at Wustum, and a few have not yet been on display in either space.
More About the Exhibition
Artists in the Exhibition
Lorena Angulo, Peter Chang, Tina Fung Holder, Donna Kato, Seulgi Kwon, Angie Reano Owen, and Kee-Ho Yuen
Sample of Work in the Exhibition
Click/tap an image for more information
Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:
Platinum Sponsors
The Estate of Karen Johnson Boyd
David Charak
Judith and David Flegel Fund
Ron and Judith Isaacs
Barbara Waldman
Windgate Foundation
Diamond Sponsors
Ruffo Family Foundation
Ruth Foundation for the Arts
Gold Sponsors
Anonymous
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
W.T. Walker Group, Inc.
Silver Sponsors
Anonymous
Baird
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Friends of Fiber Art International
Sharon and Tom Harty
Dave and Judy Hecker
Horizon Retail Construction, Inc.
Johnson Financial Group
Lang Family Foundation
Dorothy MacVicar
Jan Serr & John Shannon
Bronze Sponsors
Dave’s Wine Garage
Educators Credit Union
Express Employment Professionals
Lucy G. Feller
Hitter’s Baseball
SC Johnson
Bill and Debbie Keland
Susan Manalli
Norbell Foundation
JoAnna Poehlmann
Rasmussen Diamonds
Tito’s
Twin Disc
Media Sponsor
