Raised in Bolivia within a sizable family, Susana Martinez fondly recalls her childhood in a colonial multi-family house. Surrounded by crafty great aunts, skilled in diverse arts, from cooking to healthcare, Susana developed an early appreciation for beautiful creations. And that we share!
Encouraged by her mother, she explored various crafts but found her true passion in sewing. Despite pursuing a degree in psychology to meet societal expectations, the artist faced an internal conflict, realizing her desire for a career in fashion.
“While I was working on my thesis in college,” she recalls, “I started attending a small design-couture-pattern making academy, the only one in town, three times a week. It was then when I started the new chapter of my own and genuine life. After a very frustrating couple of years of working as a psychologist, I moved to Chile, where I pursued my fashion and design career professionally and developed my skills in full.”
Susana decided to do what made her happy and became a fashion designer with a passion for contemporary jewelry. From the beginning of her career she designed and made jewelry to compliment her fashion collections. Always open to experiment with a variety of materials: glass, metal, wood, felt, thread and most recently with polymer clay, the artist usually creates small collections that express the duality of her aesthetic sensibilities.
“My approach to working with clay is the same I have for designing garments,” Susana explains. “I design based on concepts (images or words) that will lead me to the selection of colors, textures, forms and emotions involved in the project."
"The imaginary and whimsical, as well as the playful, unexpected and extravagant are expressed on my rings, which are colorful and randomly shaped.
The seriousness of reality is applied mostly on my earrings and necklaces, where pieces look more thought-out, geometrical and even monochrome, adorned with intricate textures and print combinations, yet still dynamic and easy to wear. I aim to create intriguing pieces of jewelry that will bring joy and fun to the wearer.”
Susana moved back to New York in 2021 and took a four month long zoom workshop with Carolina Pazos from Chile. That’s when she started to systematize her knowledge of many techniques, became a student of the Blue Bottle Tree, started to know more and more people of polymer clay and attended many workshops.
Most importantly, the artist expanded her tribe and community to all over the world. “It is really amazing,” she mentions, “how so many people are part of this wonderful experience that is working with one material and how these relationships motivate each other to know more, share more and enjoy making beautiful and meaningful art.”
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