GAMAR x HoMA

In 2025 I initiated a collaboration with the Honolulu Museum of Art to design jewellery pieces based on five iconic artworks in the museum.  I selected the artworks based on their importance within the museum itself alongside the broader culture of Hawai‘i, as well as their design possibilities.

All pieces in this collection are custom made to order, with an estimated delivery of 4-6 weeks.

Guan Yin Scupture

Guan Yin is known as the Bodhisattva of Compassion, associated with holistic wisdom, soothing kindness and providing comfort for those in need.  Guan Yin is often represented with a lotus flower (symbolising the rise above suffering and seeking a path of love) as well as a vase of water (symbolising purity and healing). For the Guan Yin jewellery designs, I aimed to create pieces of a regal nature, drawing inspiration from the sculpture’s headdress and jewellery, and particularly forms associated with the lotus flower and the heart centre. The stones I chose for this collection connect with the qualities embodied by Guan Yin, including compassion, love, forgiveness, deep healing, serenity and spiritual connection.

Theodore Wore's The Lei Maker

As soon as I stopped on this painting in the museum, I immediately envisioned the jewellery collection - the lei being made in the painting translated easily into tangible jewellery designs. And I knew instantly that the collection would be made exclusively from tourmaline, being a stone with so many beautiful natural colour variations, including green and pink hues that recall the colours in the painting.  Each stone used in the jewellery designs is unique in its colouration, just as every petal and every leaf in the painting has its own distinct character. 

Hokusai's The Great Wave Off Kanagawa

I wanted these statement jewellery designs to embody the three-fold qualities that I believe make Hokusai’s wood-block print so iconic:  1) the vivid blues and strong lines of the Great Wave; 2) the power and force expressed within the forms; 3) the sense of constant movement and change that is the nature of the ocean.

Georgia O'Keeffe's Waterfall III - 'Īao Valley

The 'Īao Valley Collection was inspired by the dual elements of falling water and sharp valley lines, which provided a motivating challenge to bring these into wearable jewellery designs. I chose stones that connected with the beautiful spectrum of blues and greens present in O'Keeffe's painting, including aquamarine, blue topaz and soft green tourmaline.

'Ahu 'ula (Hawaiian feather cape)

The iconic form, colours and patterns of the 'Ahu 'ula provided a natural starting point upon which to base jewellery designs. I included pearls and red carnelian stones to further connect with the energies and elements particular to Hawaii and the qualities contained within traditional 'ahu 'ula.  The ʻahu ʻula translates to "red/sacred garment for the upper torso" in the Hawaiian language, and their use was restricted to the high chiefs (ali'i) or people of important distinction.  The capes were believed to provide physical and spiritual protection and to also be imbued with the unique mana (spiritual power) of their wearers.