Urban Cameos were presented at Craft Victoria as part of the Shape exhibition. This series of jewellery pieces explore our evolving relationship to concepts of value, aesthetics, adornment and my own sense of place in the urban environment. In the thousands of years history of the cameo, this piece of jewellery has been representative of status, hierarchy, wealth and more recently souvenirs of ‘The Grand Tour’, a symbol of cultural status for the wearer. Typically oval or circular in shape, intricately layered carvings in precious stone or shell revealed depictions of important figures such as gods, goddesses, living heroes or rulers.

In Urban Cameos, the cameo is revisited for a contemporary time. When encountering street art, my eye is drawn to the periphery, to the layers of splatters and overspray. This anonymous layering creates an aesthetic of its own. A poetic measure of time passing. A precious piece of urban geography. These moments of human interface speak to the desire of communication and artistic expression. The cameo is an opportunity to elevate and frame these moments to convey a cultural status of their own.