ARTIST INFO

TARA LOCKLEAR
Raleigh, NC

METALS | Mixed media and silver jewelry

Penland Affiliation | Penland Instructor 2015, 2021

Artist Information | Studio artist; education: BFA East Carolina University, Buffalo State University; teaching: Penland, Pratt Design School, Society for Contemporary Craft; exhibitions: WEAR | Contemporary Jewelry (Penland Gallery, NC), Reflect (RAL Art Studios, DE), SOFA Chicago (Pistachios, IL), ASSEMBLED: A Collection of Contemporary Jewelry (Penland Gallery, NC), New Necklaces: 500+ Designs (Promopress, Spain), New Acquisitions: Contemporary Art Jewelry (Racine Art Museum, WI)

Artist Statement | Inspired by materials in industrial and social culture, Tara Locklears’s jewelry creates an immediate focus for the view. Driven by her love affair with the color and graphic qualities these materials provide, exploring and forming them are at the heart of her practice. From sheet steel, and cast cement to recycled skateboards, all of her material choices have inherent beauty and strength beyond their functioning identity. The jewelry’s material makeup resonates with a time, memory, and place which lends to how all her jewelry is approached. Tara’s focus is to create finely crafted jewelry that empowers the wearer’s individuality and brings a refreshing point of view to contemporary jewelry.