Jolynn Santiago | surroundings
September 13th - November 9th, 2025
BROOKLYN METAL WORKS
In the Gallery at Brooklyn Metal Works is pleased to announce Jolynn Santiago’s new solo exhibition, surroundings. On view September 13th through November 9th, 2025, the exhibition will include new jewelry works by the artist drawn from her investigations of settling dust and the accumulations which mark the gentle passage of time.
By fusing silver and gold fragments within ring-shaped moulds carved from graphite, Santiago creates a cycle of renewal formed by debris. With these works, Santiago asks us to become attuned to our surroundings, to register the layers beneath us, and take a breath.
surroundings opens at In the Gallery at Brooklyn Metal Works on Saturday, September 13th with a free public reception from 7 - 9 pm. The exhibition is organized by Brooklyn Metal Works’ Co-Founders, Erin S. Daily & Brian Weissman, in collaboration with the artist. View the press release here.
RELATED PROGRAMMING
Opening Reception
Saturday, September 13th, 2025
7:00 - 9:00 pm EST
In the Gallery*
Brooklyn Metal Works
640 Dean Street, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Artist Talk with Jolynn Santiago
Saturday, November 8, 2025
2:00 - 3:00pm EST
5th Floor*
Brooklyn Metal Works
640 Dean Street, Brooklyn, NY 11238
In conjunction with the exhibition, Brooklyn Metal Works invites you to attend an artist talk by Jolynn Santiago at In the Gallery (640 Dean Street, Brooklyn) on Saturday, November 8. This event is free and open to the public.
*Please note that these spaces are only accessible via staircase.
Jolynn Santiago is an artist, jeweler, and educator with over a decade of experience blending these fields. Santiago holds a BFA in Jewelry and Enameling from Kent State University and an MFA in Metal from the State University of New York at New Paltz. She has taught at several universities, including SUNY New Paltz, Towson University, and Montgomery College, and leads workshops at craft schools such as the Baltimore Jewelry Center, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts (where she was also an Artist-in-Residence), Pocosin, and Metalwerx. Currently, she offers a variety of in-person and online classes from her studio in Charlotte, Vermont.
Santiago’s work has been exhibited both in the United States and internationally, including the Particles exhibition at the Museum of Art and Design in Brussels, Belgium; Collect Art Fair in London; the Rejewelry Competition in New York; and SCHMUCK 2023, a prestigious contemporary jewelry exhibition in Munich, Germany. Her work has also been featured in publications such as Tools of Transformation: Redefining Craft in Contemporary Jewellery (Klimt02.net) and FLOW: Searching for Infinity in Metalsmith Magazine.
Artist Statement
“As I walk along the edge of a dirt road, cold air seeps through my clothing, traveling the length of my body. With eyes wide, I stay attuned to my surroundings: pressed grass, thawing puddles, and layers of sediment beneath my feet. I imagine what lies below the surface, down to the earth’s core.
Circling the yard, my mind begins to drift. I close my eyes and feel the wind brush across my skin. The air is damp and sweet, scented with flowers and wet earth; I breathe it in deeply. In that moment, I feel grounded in the rhythm of early spring.
On a summer walk, I notice fallen pine needles beside green shoots, a subtle reminder that decay and renewal coexist. These quiet encounters affirm that I am alive and part of the natural cycles unfolding around me.
Walking encourages me to pause, observe, and absorb the natural world. My practice is rooted in experimentation, contemplation, and a commitment to slow, deliberate processes that reflect these everyday experiences. The jewelry and objects I create are just one part of a broader, more holistic practice—one of observing, making, and unmaking.” - Jolynn Santiago