Meet The Maker - Carlotta Mercado

This week we interview the talented Carlotta Mercado whose Stonewall Pearls Collection is inspired by the iconic Stonewall Uprising of 1969.

The Stonewall inn in Greenwich City New York provided a safe haven for Gay, Lesbian and Transgender people. However, on June 28th, a police raid sparked a riot among bar patrons and neighborhood residents as police roughly hauled employees and patrons out of the bar. This lead to six days of protests and clashes which served as a catalyst for gay rights movements around the world.

When did you start creating jewellery?

I started creating jewellery 3 years ago, while I was living and working in Madrid.

Who inspires you the most? 

For me, inspiration lies in the social movements that I feel part of in some way, closer or further away, but they touch me.

Besides, art has always helped me to connect with emotions and sensations that bring me closer to my most creative side.

What does ‘Queer’ mean to you?

The word "Queer" means to live in freedom what you are, what you feel, what you do. To feel pride in being outside heteronormativity and to transfer it to all areas is a philosophy of life. A vital process.

Please can you tell us a bit about your creative process?

Normally, my creative process begins when a subject or a reality strikes me and makes me reflect. From there, I like to look for images, songs, artists who have created in relation to this topic.

Little by little I get ideas, drawing, thinking and designing sketches in my head that I then transfer to paper.

I usually make models that help me to understand the piece and to see possible complications.

Once I am clear about the measurements, the materials, I start working and voilà!

What’s next for your creative practice? 

Soon I will start working with soft wax, I don't know the technique and I'm really looking forward to it. I will also be working on my final project, which will be influenced by Almodóvar's films and the musical movements of the 80s in Madrid.

Finally, for fun, what would be your dream piece to make or person to make for?

Now it's a bit complicated to fulfil my dream, but I would have loved to create a choker for David Bowie. I would also love to make collections for series such as "Pose" or for films such as "Volver" or a new Xavier Dolan film.