About
When I was about 5 years old, I went to softball games one summer with my mom. It was there I met “the lady with the rings”. Although not the most exciting place for a 6 year old, she (the lady with the rings) was the most magical, adorning her hands with at least 20 rings. Being born in the ’80’s, I actually had never seen someone wear stacked rings before. I was a pretty shy kid but somehow I had to ask this lady about all her sparkly rings. I was amazed that she actually gave me some of them to keep. Every time I saw her, she would give me another ring. I would look down at my soft, chubby kid fingers and the lady with the rings would tell me the rings looked better on me and I should keep them. What some may consider low value costume jewelry, to me they were valuable treasures: symbols of hope and worth. Her kindness and giving heart has remained impressed upon me for almost 34 years.
Tucked away in my wooden rose jewelry box in our rural home in the everglades of Florida, I would take each ring out and carefully look at all the details. Years later, I realized these were costume rings and not true “diamond rings”…however, the magic of the gift was never lost on me. My brother (who passed away in 2021) also gave me several rings for different holidays. One summer we actually made braided bracelets from old telephone wires and sold them so we could buy ice cream and candy.
Throughout the years I continued to collect vintage jewelry and floral brooches. The obsession with jewelry never grew old for me.
I began thinking about the possibility of making my own jewelry while working as a professional graphic designer for a university. I loved my job, but I so desired to make something with my hands in my spare time. It wasn’t long after this time that beaded jewelry turned into a metalsmithing obsession. I would go into the studio every chance I got (even paying the studio worker to stay late so I could continue to hone my skills and designs).
Many moons later, the passion is burning brighter than ever. It may sound cliche, but an ember quickly became a wild fire of full on jewelry making obsession. Life has had a way of pushing me along this path…even when I’ve felt most unsure.
After personally harrowing 2021–2022 years, I have embraced my most authentic vision, carving other-worldly treasures that evoke a feeling of the ethereal. In this realm, I’m able to convey vibrations of the natural world I love so much…imbuing each piece with the magic of field, forest, and otherworld.
Every piece is made with the highest craftsmanship and intention. In my peaceful place, I gather all the spirit-led inspiration and a peace for a place I cannot quite describe…this passion is woven into each piece like a comforting shield.
Since the passing of my dear brother, I have found dozens of feathers and fallen butterflies…gifts from the ether and a remembrance of the circle of life. Much beauty exists in our world and beyond. I have the greatest sense of belonging here. In this slowing down and reconnecting I’m able to create from a place of gratitude and yearning for all that simply is.
My jewelry is a storytelling experience, a vision, a journey. It is soul poetry of liberation—like a beautifully bound gilded journal for one to open and pen their own tale. Free of expectations or demands (of what is “normal”), each jewelry piece allows you to be who you really are.
When I was a child, I hoped to one day be like the lady with the rings…and in a way, I am.
I am thankful you're here and I hope my work resonates with the parts of yourself that, like me, have had to be tucked away, at times...those safe spaces for imagination and wonder, beauty and hope. May we allow ourselves to slowly unfurl and reflect the beauty and magic from within.
Love,
Nicole Jo
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Artist bio:
Nicole Jo Briant is an AUDHD (autistic and ADHD) fine jewelry artist based in Nashville, TN. Known for blending nature’s organic beauty, folklore, and whimsy, Nicole creates jewelry that tells a story. After studying graphic design and fiber & material studies at SAIC (The School of the Art Institute of Chicago), she transitioned to jewelry design, refining her craft through classes at the New Approach School for Jewelers in Tennessee, the GRS Training Center in Kansas, and with master wax carver Kate Wolf in Texas.
Nicole works primarily with 14k and 18k gold, sapphires, and diamonds, using a combination of traditional handcrafting techniques and innovative approaches. She carves all of her designs in wax by hand in her home studio and casts them into gold, creating pieces that are both timeless and personal. Her work is inspired by her Celtic ancestry, nature, symbolism, and personal experiences, celebrating the magic of the natural world.
In 2025, Nicole was selected as one of 18 artists for the North American Sapphire Design Challenge, where she will exhibit her 18k ring, Twilight of Pleiades, at the renowned Tucson Gem Show. A member of the Women’s Jewelry Association and Society of North American Goldsmiths, Nicole is committed to producing high-quality, sustainable jewelry while advocating for neurodivergent and disability visibility in the fine jewelry world.