When you walk into the New Mexico studio space of jewelry designer JENNIFER JESSE SMITH, the first thing you're struck by is the diverse collections of elegantly designed jewelry, pieces rich with a couture feel, archetypal symbolism and history. You then notice her collection of vintage amps and guitars nestled gently into large bay windows overlooking an outdoor patio abundant with sunflowers, cosmos, fountains and cacti. Rock-and-roll sensibility embedded into the serene southwestern landscape; a marriage of cultures that are reflected throughout Smith's life and artistic style.

At the age of seven, while backpacking through Europe with her mother in search of rare Venetian trade-beads, Jennifer spied her first punk rockers and was taken by their personal expression. Later that afternoon, at the Louvre, standing in front of a painting by Michelangelo, she announced that she was going to be an artist.

The juxtaposition of these two sensibilities, the classical and the post-modern, has been Jennifer's metier ever since. Her passion, attention to detail, and the originality of her adornments have attracted a wide following. Actors Adam Beech, Jocko Sims, Ross McCall and Billy Bob Thornton all own original designs by Ms. Smith. Even TNB’s own Rich Ferguson wears her designs in his latest spoken word video.

Jennifer received her BFA in sculpture from the Art Institute of Chicago. She has produced and created jewelry and accoutrements for many films, including Dances With Wolves, Comanche Moon, Geronimo and First Nations. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences honored Jennifer for her contributions to the Emmy award winning achievement for costuming on Son of The Morning Star (1990-91, ABC).

"I grew up on the sets of epic westerns," she says. "My mother, a historian of the American West and a costume designer, taught me to have her artist eyes on the set. The details that illustrate a character's uniquely individual biography and essence were most important to her. I carry that spirit and feel forward in my work."

Inspired by indigenous metal-smithing techniques from around the world, Jennifer combines her love of sculpture, silver-smithing and the elegance and edginess of rock-and-roll fashion with the best stones and finest metals to create original, balanced, wearable art that invoke a sacred connection and collaboration with the wearer.