Tara Lois isn’t just a jeweler; she’s a narrative architect, sculpting stories in metal and gemstone. Her workshop in Gozo, Malta, serves as both a creative sanctuary and a dialogue with the Mediterranean, her perpetual muse.
Born in Britain and cultured in France, Tara’s designs are a passport to the Mediterranean’s rich tapestry of art and tradition. Her work is a curated journey, from Gaudi’s architectural whimsy to the intricate art of Maltese filigree, which she modernizes with a contemporary flair.
Sculpture was her gateway into the world of design, a discipline that still informs her spatial approach to jewelry. While her foundational training at London’s Goldsmiths’ Centre was instrumental, it was her avant-garde education at DJCAD that truly set her artistic spirit free. Here, she embraced modern tools like CAD and 3D printing as new mediums in her artistic repertoire.
Take her recent ring design, for instance, which garnered the People’s Choice Award at Premju Ġieħ l-Artiġjanat Malti 2022. Crafted for an international celebrity, the ring is a narrative woven in metal and gem. It features the client’s grandmother’s diamonds, remodeled by her mother, and an amethyst pendant. Tara didn’t just listen to the client’s stories; she translated them into a statement ring that’s a contemporary nod to Maltese filigree. Inspired by the stratified cliffs of her Gozo home, she opted for ribbons of recycled gold, making the piece as sustainable as it is sentimental.
Tara’s work defies conventional jewelry categories. It’s neither merely ‘contemporary’ nor ‘retail’; it’s a unique lexicon of design and craftsmanship. Sustainability isn’t a buzzword for her; it’s a commitment that echoes the Mediterranean’s own ethos of resourcefulness.
Her pieces often become collaborative canvases, as clients’ stories and memories are woven into the very DNA of each design. Whether it’s an “elven” pendant for a Dubai-based client or a limited edition inspired by Malta’s maritime allure, each piece is a singular narrative in metal and gemstone.
In a world increasingly enamored with the unique, Tara Lois offers not just jewelry but fragments of the Mediterranean soul, meticulously crafted through a fusion of ancestral wisdom and cutting-edge innovation.
