About Kristin Merrill

Kristin Merrill, jeweler and sculptor

I have been surrounded by art all of my life. My father is a potter and sculptor and my mother was an avid, if not obsessive, gardener. Both have been important creative influences and have taught me about the passion of expression in one’s art, work, and family.

The jewelry and sculpture I create are a reflection of what is happening in my life. At the beginning of my career, my artwork was periodically dark and consisted of materials that represented a personal sadness. I used nails to represent misery and viewed pearls as a painful natural creation. With these materials, I created pieces that reflected a somber sense of beauty.

I spent the early years of my career selling jewlery to galleries across the United States. Over time I grew disconnected from the angular, contemporary jewelry, that I was creating. I took some time off from my work and began a family.

During the last several years, I have once again begun to create jewelry and sculpture in limited quantities. My new work is more fluid, natural, and organic than the old. I use materials like clear quartz, said to provide creativity, heal energy, promote clarity, and attune one to a higher self. I now views pearls as the truest form of beauty and as soft as a baby. Perhaps with a mother’s eyes comes the ability to see peace, hopefulness, and happiness.

In 2008 I co-founded Branford Artists Cooperative (BAC), a group that provides working studio space, children’s art classes and art exhibits to the public. This is where my studio is located. 

I received my BFA from the School of American Crafts at the Rochester Institute of Technology. I live on the Connecticut coast with my husband and two daughters.