Maria Luiza Grandchamp

I was born and raised in a small town called Sao Jose de Barreiro, in the coastal mountains of Brazil. Connection and respect for family and nature is a fundamental part of this community. My desire for communication and communion with family and nature to this day is an important part of who I am and my expression. Part of my family tradition is weaving and crochet. I learned crochet from my grandmother after whom I was named when I was seven years old. My crochet pieces are homage to my grandmother, mother and aunts who did this work ornamenting their homes and clothing. As a modern woman, I blend this aspect of my childhood with contemporary fine art experiences changing the material from yarn to silver and gold wire but keeping the patterns used by my ancestors. I am honored to be able to create pieces that reflect my family history and who I've grown to be today.

The path to this expression was intuitive and synchronistic. While studying fine arts at the University of Houston, my daughter asked for a jewelry piece for her first prom. I came up with the idea to use my crochet experience with silver wire to create a unique piece that she could be proud of. This is how my first piece was created and how I came to use my lineage and birthplace as the basis for my style of work. From here I reconnected to my regard for nature and family and deepened this inspiration into my concept and style. I have presented my pieces at national, international and invitational exhibitions receiving several awards.

I see my artwork as a reflection of how my spiritual self is expressing itself in the various roles that I have as an artist, mother and Montessori art teacher. My main challenge is to clear myself of all of these definitional boundaries and to connect with my essence and that of the Divine to let my true expression come through.

The overarching theme in my life is to bring and articulate beauty into this world. By using gold, silver and precious/semi-precious stones I transform nature into decorations. So what has been sacred in my life now becomes part of the wearer and viewer. I consciously imbue each one of my works with a particular positive energy for the benefit of the piece and the wearer. Each piece is unique, custom designed, fabricated and hand made. The adornments I create have their own personality, energy and story to tell as part of their beauty. My desire is that my jewelry finds a wearer where there is a conversation or understanding of the story the piece communicates. In this way my wish to bring more beauty into the world is made real.