Amy Findlay (Scotland) completed her degree in silversmithing and jewelry at the Glasgow School of Art in 2022 and now works from her Glasgow studio. Ambiguity and humor drive her practice. She translates slimy, grotesque slugs and insects into lifelike forms that appear to crawl across the body, transforming their unsettling textures into metal with colorful precious stones, challenging conventional ideas of beauty.
Employing traditional techniques such as hand carving and lost-wax casting, Findlay sculpts each slug before casting it in bronze or silver. Hand carving lends every piece a distinct, tactile quality. Gemstones are set directly into wax models, cast directly in the metal, preserving subtle imperfections reminiscent of the natural world. These minute flaws heighten the tension between bold metal and glistening facets. The resulting works invite wearers and viewers alike to reconsider adornment through a playful lens.
