Initially trained as a marine scientist, Signe Sterner spent many years teaching science and mathematics at the middle school through college level. Always intrigued by the intersection of art and science, Signe began studying metal work and jewelry fabrication in 2015. She recently lived for two years in London, allowing her to study with several UK master artists and earn a Level 2 British Jewelry Certification. Signe works primarily with copper and recycled silver, using etching and vitreous enameling techniques to create dimensional texture.

Her enamel work is inspired by vintage natural history illustrations, organic surfaces found in fragments of beach detritus, and growth patterns of native plant communities. The textural nature of Signe’s art and jewelry invite touch and handling, and often juxtapose free flowing pattern and subdued coloration with strong geometric form.