ALONG THE GRAIN – TRACING MOMENTS OF TRANSITION
National College Art and Design, Dublin, Ireland
Orla Reilly, a contemporary jewellery designer and graduate of National College Art and Design in Dublin, explores the expressive potential of natural materials in her collection Along the Grain – Tracing Moments of Transition. Inspired by her fascination with the energy and emotion held within organic matter, her work combines cow horn and recycled silver to create bold, fluid jewellery and wearable sculptures that embody the fleeting essence of life.
Reilly draws on the traditional craft of horn working, a practice once central to intimate objects such as combs and rosary beads but now largely lost to environmentally damaging plastics. By reintroducing horn as a tactile, sustainable material, polished yet alive with natural colour striations, she captures moments of intensity, flow and transformation. Silver traces the body’s form before flowing into horn, creating pieces that balance raw beauty with strong, purposeful design.
Through this interplay of materials, Along the Grain invites wearers to embrace life’s pace and serendipity, reconnecting with the vitality of nature through craft and adornment.
Find out more about Orla’s winning project here.
