jewelry from nature: an exhibition recap

Kentuck's Museum Gallery is displaying the bright and expressive jewelry of Jamie Stephens, Suzanne Juneau, and Megan Austin from August 7, 2025 through August 29, 2025. Each artist was chosen for this exhibition because their work is inspired in part by nature and they use natural elements in their work.

Suzanne Juneau and Jamie Stephens at Art Night. (Megan Austin is included in this exhibition but is not pictured here.)

Suzanne Juneau

Suzanne Juneau studied interior design at university and has been working in metal and jewelry for over forty years. During that time, she has experimented with dozens of different techniques, and they all led her to her signature style that incorporates organic and whimsical designs.

"I don't work, I play. One has to decide what they enjoy doing. I am a fire person, I love holding a torch."

Each piece of her jewelry is crafted by hand using a variety of techniques, including fusing, soldering, chasing, and enameling. She likes to use a variety of metals like bronze, brass, copper, sterling silver, aluminum, and sometimes steel in her designs to incorporate different finishes, colors, textures, and weights to these wearable pieces of art. Interesting gems, minerals, fossils and enamels are added to pieces to reflect the work's organic and fantastical motifs.

A, Enamel Dragonfly, Suzanne Juneau, Pin, EX-SJ-20 $42

B, Butterfly, Suzanne Juneau, Pin, EX-SJ-13 $42

C, Single Girl, Suzanne Juneau, Pin, EX-SJ-14 $42

D, Two Girls, Suzanne Juneau, Pin, EX-SJ-16 $42

E, For Girls, Suzanne Juneau, Pin, EX-SJ-18 $62

F, Single Girl, Suzanne Juneau, Pin, EX-SJ-15 $42

G, Bee, Suzanne Juneau, Pin, EX-SJ-23 $42

H, Three Girls, Suzanne Juneau, Pin, EX-SJ-17 $52

I, Calla Lily, Suzanne Juneau, Pin, EX-SJ-21 $40

J, Enamel Flower with Leaf, Suzanne Juneau, Pin, EX-SJ-22 $45

K, Silver Dragonfly, Suzanne Juneau, Pin, EX-SJ-19 $33

L, Fairy, Suzanne Juneau, Pin, EX-SJ-12 $47

M, Oakleaf, Suzanne Juneau, Bracelet, EX-SJ-02 $60

N, Enamel Sunflower, Suzanne Juneau, Bracelet, EX-SJ-05 $75

O, People Bracelet, Suzanne Juneau, Bracelet, EX-SJ-03 $66

P, Single Dragonfly, Suzanne Juneau, Bracelet, EX-SJ-07 $60

Q, Bumblebee Jasper Necklace, Suzanne Juneau, Necklace, EX-SJ-28 $170

R, Petrified Palmwood with Mother of Pearl, Suzanne Juneau, Necklace, EX-SJ-24 $120

S, Suzanne Juneau, Necklace, EX-SJ-29 $125

T, Three Dragonflies, Suzanne Juneau, Bracelet, EX-SJ-08 $75

U, Fern, Suzanne Juneau, Bracelet, EX-SJ-04 $87

V, Moss Agate Bracelet, Suzanne Juneau, Bracelet, EX-SJ-11 $130

W, Agate Bracelet, Suzanne Juneau, Bracelet, EX-SJ-09 $110

X, Enamel Dragonfly, Suzanne Juneau, Necklace, EX-SJ-26 $98

Y, Abstract with Sheet Metal, Suzanne Juneau, Bracelet, EX-SJ-06 $75

Z, Long Calla Lily, Suzanne Juneau, Earrings, EX-SJ-34 $28

AA, Calla Lily, Suzanne Juneau, Necklace, EX-SJ-25 $85

BB, People, Suzanne Juneau, Earrings, EX-SJ-49 $30

CC, Tree, Suzanne Juneau, Earings, EX-SJ-54 $38

DD, Enamel Girl, Suzanne Juneau, Earrings, EX-SJ-52 $48

EE, Silver Hanging Flower, Suzanne Juneau, Earrings, EX-SJ-42 $35

FF, Enamel Sunflower, Suzanne Juneau, Earrings, EX-SJ-41 $42

GG, Mermaid, Suzanne Juneau, Earrings, EX-SJ-33 $42

HH, Moon and Stars, Suzanne Juneau, Earrings, EX-SJ-30 $38

II, Turtle, Suzanne Juneau, Earrings, EX-SJ-47 $42

JJ, Artist Palette, Suzanne Juneau, Earrings, EX-SJ-46 $36

KK, Circle Enamel Earth, Suzanne Juneau, Earrings, EX-SJ-38 $28

LL, Regular Calla Lily, Suzanne Juneau, Earrings, EX-SJ-36 $26

MM, Enamel Butterfly, Suzanne Juneau, Earrings, EX-SJ-45 $38

NN, Mixed Metal Abstract, Suzanne Juneau, Necklace, EX-SJ-53 $120

OO, Mixed Metal Abstract, Suzanne Juneau, Earrings, EX-SJ-39 $40

PP, Abstract with Balls, Suzanne Juneau, Bracelet, EX-SJ-01 $68

QQ, Bumblebee Jasper Bracelet, Suzanne Juneau, Bracelet, EX-SJ-10 $120

Jamie Stephens

 Jamie Stephens is an Alabama native with a background in graphic design. Now a jewelry artist, she has a passion for collecting natural objects (often already-dead insects), and incorporating them into her work using a technique called electroforming. With this method, Jamie grows copper directly onto delicate specimens to encapsulate their fleeting beauty. Her love of nature is reflected in her thoughtful preparation and execution of design. Objects are combined with gemstones, copper, resin and other mixed media to create unique pieces of wearable art.

"Each piece I make has a story behind it. Part of my spirit lives in each piece I make. They are each special and one of a kind, imperfectly perfect- made with an artist's hands and heart."

Jamie recognizes that insects and natural objects are a fleeting beauty and she endeavors to preserve as much of that beauty as possible.

A, (NOT FOR SALE) Butterfly Amethyst Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-01 $220

B, Bee Amber Opaline Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-07 $132

C, Bee Amber Turquoise Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-08 $132

D, Cicada Labradorite Garnet Link Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-13 $290

E, Cicada Coffin Sterling Opal Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-21 $287

F, Small Butterfly Opaline Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-06 $185

G, Wasp Nest Garden Quartz Cord Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-19 $105

H, Fossil Ruby Fuschite Garnet Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-11 $253

I, Cicada Amethyst Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-05 $287

J, Dragonfly Garnet Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-23 $179

K, Butterfly Wing Sunstone Bead Link Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-22 $158

L, Cicada Opalite Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-03 $232

M, Cicada Amazonite Petite Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-17 $205

N, Bee Blue Kyanite Turquoise Naja Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-15 $280

O, Dragonfly Opaline Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-14 $210

P, Bee Garnet Labradorite Drop Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-24 $148

Q, Bee Turquoise Amethyst Naja Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-12 $287

R, Bee Turquoise Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-09 $120

S, Cicada Labradorite Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-02 $265

T, Butterfly Opaline Link Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-16 $195

U, Bee turquoise Pearl Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-10 $132

V, Cicada Blue Kyanite Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-04 $250

W, Mushroom Amethyst Stalactite Necklace, Jamie Stephens, JEWELRY, EX-JS-18 $93

Megan Austin

Megan Austin is known in the jewelry world for her expertise in polishing Opal, Ammolite, Larimar, and Turquoise. She typically gets orders from other retail jewelers for these stones and she is one of roughly 10 polishers in the USA that possesses the skill to polish Ammolite. She gets most of her stones in the rough, direct from the mines she visits and digs in throughout the USA. When setting stones, she pulls the sculptural design from the stone which makes the piece stronger visually as a whole.

"I love symbolism and try to create pieces that possess meaning and that will have significance to their owners. Hopefully the jewelry will be a piece that is cherished for years to come."

A, Fish on Dendratic Agate, Megan Austin, Oxidized Silver & Rose Gold, EX-MA-05 $162

B, Aquamarine Butterfly Earrings, Megan Austin, Oxidized Silver & 22K Gold, EX-MA-13 $148

C, Carved Labradorite Brooch, Megan Austin, Oxidized Silver & 22K Gold, EX-MA-03 $178

D, Peridot Flower Earrings, Megan Austin, Silver & 22K Gold, EX-MA-15 $138

E, Sapphire Ring, Megan Austin, Oxidized Silver & 22K Gold, EX-MA-08 $154

F, Carved Green Amethyst Ring, Megan Austin, Silver & 22K Gold, EX-MA-07 $168

G, Octopus, Megan Austin, Oxidized Silver & 22K Gold, EX-MA-06 $148

H, Moose, Megan Austin, Oxidized Silver & 22K Gold, EX-MA-04 $164

I, Bee Ring, Megan Austin, Silver & 22K Gold, EX-MA-10 $148

K, Carved Citrine Ring, Megan Austin, Oxidized Silver & 22K Gold, EX-MA-11 $144

K, Carved Labradorite Tulip Ring, Megan Austin, Silver & 22K Gold, EX-MA-09 $128

L, Opal Leaves Earrings, Megan Austin, Silver & 22K Gold, EX-MA-14 $138

M, Owl, Megan Austin, Oxidized Silver & 22K Gold, EX-MA-02 $182

N, Carved Tourmaline Flower Ring, Megan Austin, Silver & 22K Gold, EX-MA-12 $144

Jewelry From Nature is on view in Kentuck Art Center’s Museum Gallery until August 29, 2025. Regular Gallery Shop hours are Monday-Friday, 9:30-5:00, Saturday 12-4pm, and closed Sunday. See something you're interested in purchasing? Give us a call at 205-758-1257 or email us at kentuck@kentuck.org. Our staff is happy to help!