Universal Deco presents What Does Death Mean to You? / Memento Mori, our first independent jewelry artist exhibition, featuring 14 jewelry designers from across the United States. The collection debuts online October 26, with all pieces available to purchase beginning October 30.
A Season for Reflection
I've always been fascinated by the macabre. Halloween and spooky season have always been my favorite time of year, and there's something about this season, particularly the ancient traditions surrounding Samhain and the idea that the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest, that naturally invites reflection on death and what it means to us.
But this year, death has taken on an entirely different meaning for me.
Why This Exhibition Matters to Me
On October 30, 2025, I lost my younger brother, Chris. As the first anniversary of his death approached, I found myself thinking about how I wanted to spend that day. I knew I wanted to surround myself with beautiful art. As artists, we have this incredible ability to create, and there was something deeply poetic to me about being surrounded by creation on a day that represents the death of someone I loved so much.
That feeling became the inspiration for What Does Death Mean to You? / Memento Mori.
Continuum Necklace by Tamsin Rasor
Death in All Its Forms
Death is one of the few things we all have in common, yet it's something we often struggle to talk about openly. And death doesn't always mean the physical loss of someone we love. It can be the end of a relationship, the loss of who we once were, or the closing of a chapter in our lives. There are so many ways to experience death, both literally and symbolically.
As an artist, I became curious about what death means to other artists and how they might interpret something so universal yet deeply personal through their work. I think one of the most magical things about being an artist is our ability to take something as painful as heartbreak, grief, or loss and transform it into something beautiful and meaningful. To give physical form to emotions that can be so difficult to put into words.
Vessel by Kimi Kaplowitz
14 Independent Jewelry Designers
I'm so honored to have 14 jewelry designers from across the United States participating in our first artist exhibition.
I've always believed in lifting one another up and creating space for other artists to share their work. We all bring something different and beautiful to the table, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have a platform where I can celebrate the creativity and individuality of other jewelry designers.
Around Us, But Not Always Seen by Eunmi Han
The Artists and Their Work
Amanda Hunt, Perpetua Ring (@amandahuntjewelry)
Ellie Lee, Eclipse Golden Seed Packet (@ellieleejewelry)
Emma Brooke, So Below, As Above (@emmabrookejewelry)
Eunmi Han, Around Us, But Not Always Seen (@lecontejewelry)
Kate Wilson, Destroy to Become (@shopherhaus)
Kimi Kaplowitz, Vessel (@theethjewelry)
Leah Strong, Breath of Life (@victoriamalumjewelry)
Meryl Smyth, Freya Skull Ring (@myth_and_stone)
Nicole Aranda, Ever Near (@nicolereneajewelry)
Samantha Chang, Hold Me Through This (@saintlyfinejewelry)
Sandrine Valentine, À Vif (@sandrinebjewelry)
Sarah Ott, Shredded Souls (@loveevajewelry)
Suzanne Cox (Zanny), The Mourning Talisman (@estudiozanny)
Tamsin Rasor, Continuum Necklace (@tamsinrasor)
So Below, As Above by Emma Brooke
Jewelry as Storytelling
Storytelling is such an important part of jewelry making. It can hold memories, emotions, and meaning in a way that few other art forms can. It connects us to people, places, and moments in our lives, often becoming something we carry with us for generations.
My hope is that this exhibition encourages conversations about death, grief, transformation, and everything in between. That people see these pieces not simply as jewelry, but as expressions of the human experience, and perhaps find something within another artist's interpretation that speaks to their own story.
Freya Skull Ring by Meryl Smyth
How to Experience the Exhibition
Online: The exhibition debuts here on Universal Deco on October 26. Explore the Memento Mori collection to see every piece and the artists behind them.
Available to purchase: All pieces will be available for purchase beginning October 30, the first anniversary of my younger brother's death.
In person: We'll host an intimate exhibition evening at Universal Deco in Denver's LoHi neighborhood on Thursday, October 29, from 5 to 7 p.m., where our local community can experience the work in person. RSVPs are required. RSVP for the exhibition evening
Thank you for being here, and for honoring this work with us.
With love,
Fernanda
