photos by lindsay locatelli
The tactile surfaces and vibrant shades of the new Wazo Designs jewelry line by Minneapolis artist Lindsay Locatelli calls back to the sun-washed colors, textured landscapes, and unique flora and fauna of New Mexico. The designer lived there for nearly two years after graduating with a fine-arts degree in furniture design from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and was inspired by the landscapes. “Because the sun is out almost 365 days a year, it makes everything seem so much brighter,” she says of New Mexico, “so I became less shy about using crazy colors in my work.” Initially hand carving the jewelry from wood, the designer switched to easier-to-manipulate polymer clay, molding it into chain links and striking shapes decorated with acrylic paint. The distinctly sculptural quality of Locatelli’s work is no accident—she likens it to “wearable art.” • wazodesigns.com
reversible wazo earrings