TALLOULAH MILLER
Talloulah Miller
The Secret Life of Shells, 2026
Murex Egg Casing Ring, sterling silver, copper, 50 x 30 mm
Sea Hare Egg Casing Ring, sterling silver, copper, enamel, 60 x 50 mm
Moon Snail Egg Casing Ring, sterling silver, copper, enamel, 50 x 37 mm
Photography by Chris Bowes
ARTIST STATEMENT
TALLOULAH MILLER
The Secret Life of Shells is a series of rings that explore the hidden, almost secret world of shell egg casings. While these pieces include silver, I largely limited it to the parts of the ring that have contact with the skin. With the ever-increasing price of silver, I have become much more concious about when and how I include it in my work. This limitation allowed me to consider other materials, pushing myself to experiment with enamelling unconventional forms.
PROFILE
Talloulah Miller is a proud Wirangu woman and emerging contemporary jeweller whose practice reflects a deep respect for the natural world, particularly her homeland. Her work strengthens connections to her ancestors while rejecting colonial attitudes toward land and nature. Her jewellery features symbolic markings that form a visual language linking Wirangu Country, Mother Nature, and feminine energy. Embracing the imperfections of handmaking, she honours the rawness of place. Working intuitively, she uses materials that can return to the earth, echoing cycles of creation and renewal, and draws on traditional lost-wax casting and goldsmithing.
