Artist Spotlight: Christina Bjenning

Sea Cliff resident Christina Bjenning – a marine biologist from Sweden – had an “aha” moment about eight years ago. 

She decided to let go of society’s dictates about keeping up appearances and chose to be true to her creative calling, and started a career as a painter, sculptor and jewelry designer.

Bjenning's jewelry and artwork are currently on display at the Nassau County Museum of Art and available at Rose’s General Store in Sea Cliff.

With her family’s support, Bjenning walked away from the demands of a lucrative career in the pharmaceutical industry; and with the intent to learn the ins and outs of running a sustainable business, she went to work at Artisan Gallery in 2005. She quickly became skilled in marketing, customer service and jewelry design and launched her own company, Esmeralda Designs, just one year later.

Bjenning said she named the company after Esmeralda – the gypsy woman from Victor Hugo’s book The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

"She was a woman who danced to her own beat, and I think one must be that way in order to produce art,” Bjenning said.

Because of Bjenning's background as a marine biologist, she uses only eco-friendly and recycled materials when sculpting her wearable art. She said that her research has shown that it takes five tons of waste to make one gold ring and that the blasts from mining done in certain parts of the world negatively impacts aquatic life.

Bjenning said she buys her gold and silver from refineries that recycle the precious metals. The conflict-free diamonds and gemstones that adorn her jewelry originate from environmentally and socially responsible sources and are produced with minimal environmental impact.

She said she creates raw and textured jewelry and sculptures that are kind to the planet, and finalizing the process is instinctual.

“When I feel it in my hand, and if I can name it, it is done,” she said.

She weaves a whimsical tale behind each one-of-a-kind creation so that the new owners have a little “history” about their new work of art.

Bjenning recalls the story behind one of her masks: "I sculpt at twilight, the enchanting time of the day when my studio glows from sunlight diffused through fairie dust," she said. "Music fills the air as my hands seek their shape within. Submerged in carbon and fired until dawn, then hand polished to a luminous shine, ready to face our world for the first time. I named her Love."

Fellow artists, rock musicians, tattooed lawyers and people looking for something out of the ordinary are often attracted to Bjenning's artwork. 

She said she crafts jewelry for people going through life altering experiences like cancer or the death of a beloved pet. She recently sold a necklace she named Return of Spirit to a Sept. 11 survivor.

Bjenning calls her spring collection – which features mythological jewelry and sculptures – Kali and the Moth: Time and Transformation. 

“Be strong, beautiful and courageous, and patient," she says to other artists.  "Don’t be a disgruntled artist. It might just not be your time yet.”

Bjenning's jewelry and designs can be purchased her online store.