Seliena Coyle

Seliena Coyle creates original and contemporary jewellery that combines traditional and unexpected materials. Sensitive to the changing political and cultural landscape of 21^st Century Ireland, Coyle aims to construct a new aesthetic that responds to Irish heritage while breathing new life into traditional jewellery forms. In this regard, Coyle takes inspiration from the state’s collections of Bronze Age artifacts.

Her current body of work seeks to evoke the Irish peat landscape in its use of indigenous bog oak. Bog-wood comes from trees that lay buried in bogs for thousands of years, preserved from decay by the acidic and anaerobic conditions. The blackened wood is set in a series of silver pieces inspired by ancient jewellery shapes including the Torc, Lunnula, Sun Discs and earspools.

Coyle achieved a Masters of Fine Art in Metalsmithing and Jewellery Design from Indiana University, finishing in 1998. On returning to Ireland she was appointed Acting Head Lecturer in the Metals department of the National College of Art and Design.