Anatomical Element

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United States
Chicago, IL
Anatomical Element

Adventuring with art and anatomy! Chicago, IL. Shop: http://anatomicalelement.etsy.com Beginning as a hobby, metalsmithing is now an integral part of my life.

As a trained medical illustrator, my work involves the intersection of art and anatomy. Starting as merely anatomical forms representing my love for anatomy, my metalwork has evolved into inspirational pieces for patients with chronic disease as well as awareness designs. These people and patients are where I gather inspiration. Using items such as surgical staples from a lung transplant, I create

custom pieces with deep personal meaning and narrative. These symbolic metal forms commemorate a life-changing event, celebrate a journey or honor those lost. Through my work I aim to give a visual voice to invisible illnesses. I am continuing
to learn traditional and new metalsmithing techniques to incorporate into and strengthen my work. While my illustrations and professional work before this had value, this new adventure adds a deeper level of meaning and fulfillment to my life.

11/14/2025

I don’t do many markets anymore but this weekend I will be at two events! Find me tonight at Garnet Studios’ open house and Saturday & Sunday at Center on Halsted for their holiday market!
Help me clean house! My items will not be restocked and once they are sold out they are gone forever! Time to make room for new things!

12/16/2024

The 2024 urology cookie party was another success! Kidney, p***s & urinary system cookie cutters with a new twist this year - CPT codes! One of the key ingredients of being a surgery scheduler!

Cookies cutters from 🍪
Huge thank you to Susan and Jean for your help baking and decorating!

08/17/2024

Surprise! I’m vending at the Glenwood Ave Arts Fest in Rogers Park Chicago all weekend! 11-9pm Sat, 11-7pm Sun. It’s a beautiful weekend to shop some local art. I’m in booth 73, come say hi!

04/22/2024

My final submission for Radical Jewelry Makeover Chicago entitled: élan vital

The initial design of this necklace looks nothing like the finished piece. It morphed through many different versions during the construction process, extremely frustrating me almost as if it had a mind of its own!

The evolution of this piece was perhaps motivated by natural creative impulse – a driving perfecting force that metaphorically echoes the obsolete biological theory of orthogenesis.
It is titled élan vital, a term dating to 1907 which means “vital force”, and acknowledges the significant energy of this piece. An energy that to me communicates a message of hope - that no matter how frustrating & dark, beautiful things can emerge if we nurture our inner force.
Materials used: sterling earrings & pendant with set turquoise stones, brass wire from donated necklace, donated sterling bead chain pieces and donated chainmaille chain.

04/19/2024

Radical Jewelry Makeover | Chicago: “Sympetalous Alba”

In keeping with my theme of educational art - This botanical piece has flowers with petals that appear fused or partially fused together. These types of flowers are called sympetalous. The botanical Latin term for white is alba.
Materials used: Post flower earrings with brass hoop jackets, ivory flower beads, brass wire from a necklace, chain & metal bead elements. Special donations by Donna Cook & Erin Ashmore.

04/13/2024

It’s been a difficult 6 months for me as an artist, as a human. Creative energy has been ephemeral at best. But nevertheless I participated in a fun project called Radical Jewelry Makeover Chicago, a collaboration between and . Using donated jewelry and scrap materials, I completed 3 pieces that I am excited to share. If you’re in Chicago, come see the exhibition and all the creative new life we’ve given to unwanted jewelry!

“CN VII”
This brooch is representative of the face and specifically cranial nerve VII, also known as the facial nerve. It controls the muscles of facial expression. There are five major components on the brooch just as the nerve has five major facial branches. This special piece contains a yellow cufflink component of my late Grandmother Pauline’s.

09/05/2023

This weekend Chicago!! I have wanted to be an artist at the flagship Renegade Craft Chicago since I stumbled upon it by accident back in 2012. Many years of rejections and I finally made it in! So excited to share my art with y’all in Wicker Park! Pop on by this weekend (Sept 9 & 10) 11am -7pm. I’m in booth #278!

09/01/2023

I am very excited to share this special custom piece, infused with so much meaning! I create anatomical jewelry to start conversations & spread awareness, and this necklace does just that. Read Larissa's story below:

Larissa was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as an infant and was not given a good prognosis. She proved her doctors wrong and outlived their grim predictions. At the age of 30 she was diagnosed with AMAG - Autoimmune Metaplastic Atrophic Gastritis which severely impacted her insulin and blood sugar regulation. After several years of fighting a losing battle she read about a pancreas transplant, spoke to her care team and although very rare at the time, got on the transplant list at Duke. Finally in 2016 Larissa received a successful pancreas transplant and the donor pancreas was transplanted vertically on her right side. Her own pancreas was left in place as it still makes enzymes to aid in digestion. Thanks to the selfless gift of organ donation, Larissa no longer has to take lab-made insulin and lives a full life. This necklace was created with the pancreas positioned vertically like her transplanted pancreas, but in the location of her own pancreas as they now work in tandem.

08/20/2023

Glenwood Arts Fest is the place to be!! These earrings are flying off the shelf! Y’all are making me the happiest lil artist ever! I’ve never run out of stuff so fast! 🫀💕

08/16/2023

I’ve said for YEARS I wanted a sign hanging perpendicular outside of my tent so you can see it while you walk down the street at a festival, and I finally made one! I envision it will eventually be made out of metal and look more badass, but for now this will do. Look for it’s debut this weekend at the Glenwood Ave Arts Fest!

08/15/2023

This weekend I’ll be posting up in my neighborhood of Rogers Park for the Glenwood Ave Arts Fest! [I’ve got a new spot in front of Morse Market near Greenview] Swing by & check out all the great artists and vendors!! Stay hydrated! 💦

Address

Chicago, IL

Website

http://anatomicalelement.com/

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