Ashley Ryane

Ashley and her work with mural by Mer Young in North Long Beach

Ashley Ryane is a Metalsmith, Jewelry Artist and Object Maker with a deep passion for being involved in the Southern California Metals Community. She has a BFA degree in 3D Media: Metals and Jewelry from California State University Long Beach, where she served as president of the California State Long Beach Metals Arts Guild. She is currently continuing her education by working towards her Jewelry Entrepreneurship Certificate at Long Beach City College, where she became involved with Straw Factory. She serves as a Member at Large, and The Social Media Chair for The Metals Arts Society of Southern California. She spends her summers working as the Jewelry Lab Technician for the Summer Program at Idyllwild Arts, and is now the incoming Metals Week Coordinator. When not working with various Metals and Jewelry groups she spends her time maintaining her studio practice, producing objects and jewelry, in her home studio.

My work is grounded in personal strength. Through working with metal I have cultivated a better understanding of myself and the strength I have earned from working not through, but with my disabilities. Everyday so many people face the world with burdens only they know about. When a person wears my jewelry I want them to feel that strength, and help them present themselves in a way that allows them to move through the world in a new and different way. My jewelry does not draw attention to the difficulties I face, nor do I need or want it to. I would rather it draw attention to the bold wearer. I utilize physical and visual texture and weight with clean simple lines and take cues from armor to convey a message of power, resilience and steadfastness, in hopes that when it is worn the wearer feels like a fighter.