Margo Csipő (she/they) is an art jeweler and illustrator based out of Baltimore, MD. Her works question the profound unknowns of self and the non-linear journey to understanding one’s queerness. These concepts manifest in illustrated surfaces on mother of pearl and dimensional repoussé-all linked together with ethereal, paper-like silver.
A Hook and an Eye
Sterling silver, mother of pearl, fine silver, pigmented ink, lacquer
18H x 4W x .25D inches
3200.
As a queer artist, I am fascinated with the voids between anecdotes: narratives about “The Unknown”. Society often neglects stories for those of us outside of the norm, so I craft tales that seek the answers to questions that the culture I grew up in failed to supply me with.
These stories are tools of self-discovery and affirmation. Frequently, my jewelry and illustration ponder uncertainty and the simultaneous states of rejecting and accepting that uncertainty. My queerness- and often the queer experience in general- is often without easy answers. However, the reality I write is not one of strife, and my narratives can reach resolutions of unity, closeness, and tenderness- affirmations of my own reality.
The visual world I craft is heavily influenced by other narrative-based art forms like film, animation, and graphic novels. I am especially interested in modern works that reimagine traditional folktales. As a first-generation Hungarian immigrant, I borrow from a wealth of Eastern European folktales to further understand what it means to claim a culture that is an ocean away. These principles manifest in rich, layered compositions with discerning material combinations. Hidden aspects of my jewelry are devices for a viewer’s deeper exploration, an invitation to join me in a profound exploration of self.
A Thread Cut, A Path Found
Sterling silver, mother of pearl, fine silver, pigmented ink, lacquer
16H x 5W x .25D inches
4200.
A Hook and an Eye
Sterling silver, mother of pearl, fine silver, pigmented ink, lacquer
18H x 4W x .25D inches
3200.
Between Longing and Fear
Sterling silver, mother of pearl, fine silver, pigmented ink, lacquer
12H x 3W x .25D inches
1000.
gallery@penland.org | 828.765.6211 | Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM