Jessica Vagg is a jeweller, artist, and writer, working with a range of mediums including visual arts, batik textiles, wearable art, and metalsmithing, with a strong background in performing arts, dance and costuming. Originally from Denmark, Western Australia, Jessica is currently residing in Fremantle, with her partner and three children while continuing to immerse herself in the world of adornment, with a focus on designing and creating bespoke talismans and amulets, Jessica holds a lifelong fascination and dedicated study of the esoteric and the occult, which is always present in her work, from hidden meanings, messages, numbers and the energetic and healing properties of plants.
Jessica’s artworks are richly detailed and deeply inspired by the ancient world, holding an air of mystery, with the need to look closer to solve the puzzle, her statement jewellery pieces use opulent colour pallets of gemstones, and mixed metals to invoke visions of lush renaissance paintings and of ancient priestesses and queens from long ago. Believing that our body/vehicle in this lifetime should be richly decorated no matter if it is jewels and precious metals or woven flowers, bark and ironstone, no matter if we are attending a once in a lifetime ceremony or event…or just doing the mundane dance of housework and hanging the washing while barefoot, with small children holding tight to our thigh, we should still adorn the temple, just as we offer it food and water.
The crystals and gemstones featured in Jessica’s works are mostly sourced from Australia by small family businesses or hobby fossickers, where ethical collection of stones is at the forefront, and where fair wages are exchanged, metals used are also often recycled where possible. Jessica has a strong focus on sustainability in her work not just in the metals and gems used but also by finding alternatives to the harmful chemicals and materials used in metalsmithing.
Jessica’s mixed media pieces are interwoven with animals, flowers, emotive subjects, and of course brilliant jewels. These works are deeply inspired by medieval depictions of wonderful beasts, and portraits of people we will only ever know through the clues left in paintings of their likeness.
