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, MA
Emerson College Narrative Journalism Class Project, Jennifer Scully, Boston, MA
The Journey of a Bone Hunter's Intrinsic Art
Juried Memberships and Affiliations
2021
Darien Times Hearst Publications, Joel Lang, Bridgeport, CT
Norwalk artist says she wants viewers to ask questions when viewing her bone sculptures
Fountain Street Gallery Blog Interview
2021
2019
Core Artist, Fountain Street Gallery, Boston, MA
Silvermine Guild of Artists, New Canaan, CT
Sculptors Guild Apprentice Membership, New York City, NY
2020 Annex Artist, Fountain Street Gallery, Boston, MA
The Shape of Things We Create, Artist Collective, National
The Royal List, The Royal Society of American Art, Brooklyn, NY
NYC Crit Club Art Career Intensive, New York City, NY
2020
Curated Art Marketplace
Selected Juried Exhibitions
2021
2020
2019
2013
1997
1996
No Vacancy, Sculptors Guild with support from ChaShaMa, New York, NY
Guild Summer Salon, Silvermine Galleries, New Canaan, CT
Untitled: Small works by our Core Members, Fountain Street Gallery, Boston, MA
New Members Exhibition, Silvermine Galleries, New Canaan, CT
In the Annex Gallery, Fountain Street Gallery, Boston, MA
Factory + Art =, Former Hinchliffe Brewing and Malting Company Building, Paterson, NJ
70th A-One, Silvermine Galleries, New Canaan, CT. Recipient of the Mollie & Albert Jacobson Sculpture Award
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
2008
2002
2001
1996
1995
1994
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
Awards
2020
Mollie & Albert Jacobson Sculpture Award, New Canaan, CT
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