2024

Copper, Vachetta leather, souvenir keychains

Aquí te traigo (Here I Carry You) draws from memories of my grandmother, who loved traveling throughout Mexico and often returned with small souvenirs she thought I might one day use in my jewelry. After her death from lung cancer, I rediscovered these keychains while reorganizing my studio. What had once been simple keepsakes became reminders of her presence and of the ways our relationships continue after loss. The work reflects on carrying loved ones with us through memory. We carry the joy, complexity, and influence of those who shaped us, and in doing so, our relationships with them persist long after they are gone. The keychains become both souvenirs and vessels for remembrance, linking grief, memory, and the enduring presence of those we love.