Olivia Boi
She/Her
Westbrook, ME
My work is inspired by archaic talismans, my Sardinian heritage & the natural, organic beauty of the lost wax casting process. I am drawn to symbolism & protective qualities of ancient objects & I reinterpret those ideas into contemporary jewelry.
I work primarily in sterling silver and brass, often pairing these metals with carefully selected gemstones that add depth and individuality to each piece. I am especially drawn to the unpredictability of lost wax casting because it allows for organic textures and forms that feel both ancient and personal. Each piece is shaped by hand, making every design unique and reflective of my process. Through my work, I hope to create jewelry that feels meaningful and timeless—pieces that hold personal significance for the wearer, much like the talismans that inspire me
www.strongmoonmetals.com
How does your creative practice reflect your experience of living and making as a BIPOC and/or 2SLGBTQIA+ maker?
“I am a disabled and queer maker. Everyday is a conscious choice to work as hard as I can do try to pave a way for folks like me. I get lost in my work in my tiny studio. I feel safe and able to pour my emotions, energy and stability into my work. With the way things have been in the world, my safe haven is my studio. It is where I go to escape, find joy, experiment, transcend and elevate my thoughts. The alchemy of turning fear, sorrow, longing, and a hope for a more understanding world, all while manipulating metal, creating permanent structures and vessels through soldering and setting stones. It brings me to a stand still and I realize how far I have come as a human, a queer person, a creative soul.”
"sharp shell spike" brass, copper, sterling silver, abalone shell cabochon pendant face is 2.5 inches wide. entire piece is 22.5 inches 2025What techniques, stories, or materials have been passed down to you, and how are you reimagining them in the present?
“I am pretty much self taught for the most part. I had a wonderful co worker who sold me all of her jewelry making equipment for peanuts ( she was a jeweler for 30 years ). I feel very fortunate for the tools I have acquired, mostly second hand. I tell people that I work very simply, I do not have a fancy array of tools. I do a lot by hand " the old fashioned way ". Anytime I use my tools, I feel so much appreciation for them, not only have them aided myself in making jewelry, but a long lost co worker who made for 30 years before me. I often think, how special that really is. To be able to share tools and make art. As makers, all of our work is so unique and different from each other, yet we all use the same tools, the same techniques, the same practices. It is the soul and the willingness to be yourself that creates innovative and interesting jewelry.”
How does your work honor those who came before you while forging new pathways for the future?
Anything else you would like to share about this work? This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, research, etc.
“I made these pieces at Haystack School of Mountain Crafts and soon after my return home made the two Lost Wax Casted Pendant. The amount of inspiration I experienced in Deer Isle this summer taking a 2-week metals course was invigorating and catapulted me forward as a creative thinker, experimental artist and queer woman. I feel like these pieces are amulets for protection against the unsafe world as a queer woman. Battle objects. Talismans, Ancient relics, Metal friends, Safety nets, Golden guardians.”
“I often think about all the jewelry that was ever made. I am truly inspired by archaic jewelry and the way metal was fabricated and casted thousands of years ago. I think of studying history of jewelry as honoring our ancestors, thanking those for inspiration who came before us. those who figured it out before we did. The relics seen across history, all over the world, made by inspired makers of any timeline. I feel a duty to carry on the lineage of experimenting in metal, documenting the process and sharing with the world. All the ways we can re imagine jewelry is inspiring to me.”
Photographs Courtesy of the Artist
"Golden Nuraghe Pendant" Brass ( Lost Wax Casting ) & Black Tourmaline 1 inch x 1/2 inch 2026"Golden Nuraghe Pendant" Brass ( Lost Wax Casting ) and Quartz 1 inch x 1/4 inch 2026