My work explores and exorcises my
life-altering experiences that began in 2009 when I learned that I had several benign tumors that were destroying my jawbone. Over three years of surgeries and procedures inspire me to intimately explore beauty, decay and fragility.
I have had a life long passion and obsession for collecting bones, shells and other natural objects. Working with found organic materials allows me the thrill of the hunt, the experience of discovery and the joy of combining and manipulating shapes. My desire is to create something better, something more compelling, by repairing a broken cow femur, re-imagining part of an alligator’s vertebrae or combining moose ribs and feathers. Inspired by the new metal plate in my jaw, I add brass screws, metal chain or silk thread to these discarded, decaying animal parts to give them a new life. These objects investigate how beauty is defined through mortality and rejuvenation.
Miller lives with her husband David who is an author/illustrator and their pup Amelia, in Southern Connecticut.
Education
1990
Rhode Island School of Design
BFA Jewelry and Light Metals
Penland School of Craft
Enameling
1989
Selected Press
2020
Boston Globe, Grace Griffin, Boston
Emerson College Narrative Journalism Class Project, Jennifer Scully, Boston
The Journey of a Bone Hunter's Intrinsic Art
Jurried Memberships and Affiliations
2019
Sculptors Guild Apprentice Membership, New York City, NY
2020 Annex Artist, Fountain Street Gallery, Boston, MA
The Royal List, The Royal Society of American Art, Brooklyn, NY
NYC Crit Club Art Career Intensive, New York City, NY
2020
Selected Exhibitions and Juried Trade Shows
2020
2019
2013
1997
1996
Celebration, CelebrateWomxn845, Poughkeepsie, NY
Out of Place, Fountain Street Gallery, Boston, MA
Small Works Art Show, Axel Interiors, South Norwalk, CT
Monochrome, Site: Brooklyn Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Fear III: Visiting Death, Plaxall Gallery, Long Island City, NY
My Pet’s Therapist, Tutu Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Animals, Site: Brooklyn Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Crashing the Party, Sculptors Guild, Plaxall Gallery, Long Island City, NY
Ruin, Royal Society of American Art, Brooklyn, NY
Under the Magnifying Glass, Gallery Cubed, Brooklyn, NY
Fine Arts Building, Second Fridays Open Studios, Chicago, IL
Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington, DC
Hand Workshop Craft Show, Richmond, VA
American Craft Council, Craft Market Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
Resurgam Gallery’s Fourth Annual National Open, Baltimore, MD
Hand Workshop Craft Show, Richmond, VA
Corporate Experience
2017–2018
Social Media Creative Director, Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc, Danbury, CT
2015–2017
Senior Director, Merchandising/Product Development, Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc, Danbury, CT
2013–2015
Senior Director, Merchandising, Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc, Danbury, CT
2007–2013
Product Development and Design Director, Sears Holdings Corporation, Chicago, IL
2006–2008
Founder, Owner and Creative Director, 3HD•Design, Chicago, IL
2004–2006
Product Development and Design Director, Sears Holdings Corporation, Chicago, IL
2003–2004
Head Design Manager, Decorative Accessories, Pottery Barn Kids, San Francisco, CA
2002–2003
Senior Product Development Manager, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, New York, NY
2000–2002
Senior Style Editor, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, New York, NY
1999–2000
Associate Style Editor, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, New York, NY
1998–1999
Freelance Product Developer and Stylist, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, New York, NY
1990–1998
Founder, Owner and Creative Director, Miller Opie Jewelry, Providence, RI
Publications and Media
2014
Modern Masters Collection Ethan Allen Product Video
Meet The Designers, Kmart Design Video
Respond 2 Productions, XYRON Storymercial, Portland, OR
Martha Stewart Living Television, Appeared with Martha Stewart in craft segment, Westport, CT
Martha Stewart Living Television, Appeared with Martha in craft segment, Westport, CT
Martha Stewart Living Television, Solo appearance in segment, New York, NY
ACCENT MAGAZINE Jewelry shown on cover
ACCENT MAGAZINE Jewelry profiled in articles
THE LEADER photographed selling work at Charlotte, NC ACC show
ORNAMENT MAGAZINE interview
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH interview
2008
2002
2001
1996
1995
1994
Awards
1997
Niche Award Finalist, Philadelphia, PA
1996
Manufacturing Jewelers and Silversmiths of America, S.A.V.E Design Competition, Providence, RI
1993
Niche Award Finalist, Philadelphia, PA
Contact Me
201-951-5458