Jennifer Laracy

.Jennifer Laracy (Pākehā) was born in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and lives  in  Pungarehu, Taranaki  with her husband and 3 children .
Jennifer graduated from Whitireia Community Polytechnic in 2001 with a major in fine metals.

She participated in the Handshake project from 2017 to 2019, guided by artist mentor Judith Darragh.

In 2018 she co-founded The Jewel and The Jeweller workshop and gallery in central Ngāmotu, offering contemporary jewellery and creative classes to the public.

​Jennifer has exhibited throughout Aotearoa and internationally, with exhibitions in Italy, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, as well as Alumni exhibitions in Munich, Thailand, and London.

Her pieces are part of private collections in Aotearoa and abroad, and are held in public collections such as Puke Ariki Museum, Taranaki, Dowse Art Museum, Te Awa Kairangi te Kai, and Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.

​Her exhibition works are primarily one-off pieces that explore materiality and a provincial vernacular, often addressing themes of identity and location.

Jennifer employs an intuitive approach to her practice, frequently beginning with sketches and employing a variety of materials and construction techniques to realize her vision.

In recent years, she has focused on a limited palette of pāua shell and silver, creating reflective pieces that embody the jewellery-making heritage of Aotearoa and convey cultural messages.