Based in Massachusetts, Tzu-Ju Chen grew up in a coastal village in Taiwan, and her childhood memories include the textures of shells and stones worn smooth by the ocean. Her work explores the conceptual play of material and meaning, and often combines low-status material with precious metal and stones. This intermingling of everyday and precious materials—including coral, mother-of-pearl, shells, pearls, and silver—interrogates the meaning and the perceived value of jewelry. Chen’s work is rooted in the intimacy of found objects that echo a sense of home against the backdrop of the larger world. Her pieces are miniature worlds, which she creates to express the longing for connection, identity, and a place of belonging.
