Configuration Limited Edition Diam Slice Sways Earrings

hand carved upcycled skateboards with hand fabricated oxidized sterling silver

4 x 1.5 inches

Courtesy of The Artist

Tara Locklear's recognizable jewelry utilizes materials like recycled skateboards and cast cement. Tara's work has been highlighted in several national publications, including American Craft Magazine, Metalsmith Magazine, and the book Art Without Waste by Patty Wongpakdee. She was selected as Craft + Design's Featured Artist in 2017 and has continued to exhibit her work at the show since then.

"My creative journey is deeply inspired by the vibrant energy of urban landscapes, merged with an enduring passion for mathematics. This combination, along with an ongoing fascination with color, is the driving force behind my jewelry designs. Drawing from upcycled materials sourced from social culture and architectural remnants, I have crafted a visual language that is both modern and playful. My affinity for bold hues and striking shapes is a direct result of years influenced by pop culture, shaping my perspective on jewelry as a vital medium for self-expression.

The materials I choose possess unique, graphic qualities and an inherent beauty that goes beyond their original function. My relentless curiosity compels me to explore and reshape these materials, testing their limits to reveal new possibilities. Whether working with the vivid patterns from upcycled skateboard decks, as seen here in the Configuration Diam Slice Sways adorned with the marks of the street patina, or the speckled, terrazzo-like surfaces of reclaimed plastic countertops, I pair these elements with minimalist sterling silver designs to create pieces that are both comfortable and powerful.

In my jewelry, color and texture transcend mere surface aesthetics; they serve as emotional bridges between the materials and those who engage with them. These qualities evoke memories, moments, and places, allowing the jewelry to resonate deeply with anyone who encounters it. At the core of my studio practice is the pursuit of refined, modern, and distinctive sculptural designs that encourage a unique sense of self. Through a playful approach, I strive to tell my personal story and expand the definition of what contemporary jewelry can be."

Tara is a full-time studio artist living in Knightdale, NC. She has taught at Penland School of Craft (NC), Haystack Craft School (ME) as well as various other craft schools and art colleges around the United States. Her work has been shown throughout the country as well as abroad in multiple group exhibitions in addition to several fine retail museum and fine craft shows such as the Smithsonian Fine Craft Show (DC), Mad About Jewelry Show at the MAD Museum (NY) and was selected as the feature artist at the VisArts Craft + Design Show 2017 (VA). Tara's work is a part of permanent collections at the Racine Art Museum (WI), Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AK), and the Mint Museum (NC). Her work is represented by Mora (NC), Museum for Art and Wood (PA) as well a select few others. Her work has also received awards such as being a finalist Our State Magazine 2022-21 as well as receiving the 2019 PMA Craft Show and 2024 Tephra ICA Arts Festival - Excellence in Jewelry awards