Kerry Howley is a contemporary jeweller and jewellery artist recently graduated with a First Class BA Hons Jewellery and Accessories degree from Middlesex University. She is fascinated by the power materials have to influence our emotional response to jewellery, with a particular interest in how these emotions can be conflicting and as a result, we bring you the human hair necklaces by Kerry Howley.

Human Hair Necklaces by Kerry Howley

Attraction/Aversion is Kerry’s award winning graduate collection, winning the Museum of Domestic Architecture’s Arthur Silver Award for graduate innovation and excellence. Attraction/Aversion is a material exploration of how people can feel seemingly opposing emotional responses simultaneously.

The necklaces are made of human hair, a familiar material that we take pride in. However once off of the body hair becomes an innate source of aversion. Kerry wanted to see if she could make discarded hair attractive again.

Through the familiar form of a necklace, and using patterns and symmetry that are instinctively pleasing, Kerry has created a delicate balance between the viewer/wearer’s feelings of aversion and attraction.

Credits for images below: Photography by Lucy Eleanor Brown, Styling by Emma Breden, Make-up by Jemma Stokes, Model Hannah Alton from Gingersnaps:

Kerry is happily available for commission.
Your commission need not be jewellery, Attraction/Aversion is displayed in exhibitions as wall pieces, and a commission could make a personal, elegant and unusual talking point framed in your home.

Kerry Howley’s website is no longer active, but you can follower her on instagram @kerry_howley
all information and imagery courtesy of the artist.