What separates fashion from sculpture, artists from craftspeople, or wearable art from high art? Jacqueline Rabun’s work makes us question whether it’s worth making distinctions in the first place. Rabun studied fashion design before entering the world of jewelry: After a chance meeting with the owner of a contemporary jewelry gallery in Los Angeles, she “became obsessed with the desire to create miniature, wearable sculptures.”

Rabun sees no meaningful difference between designers and artists: “Creation is the same process for all areas of the arts. It requires one to go deep inside to express emotions, experiences, and values through physical form.”

“I see each piece as a talisman to bring comfort, strength, and protection to the wearer.”

Despite resistance to limitations or categorization, Rabun still has to consider the form of the body when making jewelry. Inspired by the human experience—birth, love, transformation—and the beauty of nature’s organic structures, Rabun’s art objects are natural, fluid shapes that compliment the body. Closeness to the wearer is not only a physical consideration for Rabun—it’s emotional, as well. “I see each piece as a talisman to bring comfort, strength, and protection to the wearer,” she says.

Rabun’s reverence for the natural extends beyond inspiration—it also guides her process and her growth as a creator. Her advice: “Slow down, take time to develop your design language, follow your heart, and the rest will take care of itself.”