Luana was born and raised in Hawaii, raised by an artist mother and carpenter father (both horticulturist), she lived a simple and creative life surrounded by the tropical rainforest. Upon moving to the Bay Area to earn her BFA in Jewelry/Metalsmithing, she quickly noticed the dramatic contrast of a densely populated city to the lush tropics of Hawaii. This shocked her into realizing her strong affiliation with nature and organic growth patterns. She expresses her deep and abiding love of nature’s tiniest wonders through her artwork, finding ways to amplify the beauty of simple natural objects and to bring attention to our emotions.
All the organic specimens you see in the work are collected in their natural state, as to not disturb the environment. No insects or animals are harmed, killed, or injured to create this jewelry, everything is found and collected as-is. Green and eco-friendly products and techniques are utilized in the jewelry studio, with an emphasis on low environmental impact. Every detail, including packaging, focuses on sustainability, recyclability, and overall impact.
Luana lives and works in Paonia, CO.
