About — CHENAU

Inspired by Nature

There is more art in nature than the creative energies that come forth from my hands could ever produce.

This highlighting is done with embellishments of gold, hence the “Au”, the chemical symbol for gold in the title of my line. That these tiny transformed bits of nature are in jewelry form is the most recent iteration of the tendency in my studio practice to use metal and natural objects to adorn and armor the body.

CHENAU jewelry aims to highlight the intricacies of a Magnolia cone, the geometry of a Sweet Gum ball, or the sinuous Jacaranda pod by sculpting these woody items in a way that highlights their natural characteristics — characteristics one might not otherwise observe.

Sourced from Nature

I am a tiny sculpture.

Be gentle with me,

As you would the Earth.

Keep me dry.

… And wear me to

Art openings often!

Every Chenau piece has a history — from the relationship between nature and the artisan, to the life of the wearer. Each piece is designed with the intention of creating art that can be passed down through generations. Our jewelry is handmade by Sarah K. Chenault. Sarah is based in Southern California and Northern Michigan.