Designer Gustav Reyes believes that the desire to create is what drives humans to extend their minds and souls beyond the limits of their physical selves. Through his work, he considers the complexities of the lifecycle and the idea that humans belong more to the natural world than to the created world. Reyes was exposed to jewelry making as a boy on the southwest side of Chicago; his father worked long hours as a laborer, but spent his free time creating jewelry while Reyes looked on. Reyes went on to attend the Art Institute of Chicago, and also spent time at the Chicago Bauhaus Academy, where he developed a strong appreciation for the finer aspects of woodworking. Dedicated to preserving nature, Reyes continuously searches for sustainable techniques, and uses repurposed and salvaged wood in his works, as well as Forest Stewardship Council Certified wood.
