Nena Galloway Potts is a Missouri born artist and metalsmith who resides in the Ozarks woods. Her surroundings provide an ideal environment for the conception of new and imaginative ideas. Inspired by her surroundings she is fascinated with the ever changing variety of patterns, colors, and textures that appear in nature. Nature and related themes have been a focus in Nena’s designs for the past 26 years. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Metals and Jewelry design from Southwest Missouri State University in 1978. Upon graduation she worked in the jewelry manufacturing industry gaining practical technical training until establishing her own business in 1982. Since that time Nena has developed and successfully marketed her own jewelry designs throughout the United States. Nena was chosen to create Christmas ornaments for the White House Christmas tree and the Missouri official Christmas tree in the historic governor’s mansion. She has won numerous awards and participated in countless art exhibitions and shows over the last 26 years.
Natural forms, leaves, rocks branches and flowers are the inspiration for many of my handcrafted jewelry designs. My work is a reflection of my interest in the beauty, inventiveness and variety of forms found in the natural world. Many of the designs are representational, some are slightly abstracted and some are just plain whimsical and fun. Many of the shapes I create have meaning, a rough pebble inspires me to create a padlock shape that represents courage or strength. Another with a teardrop shape when viewed from a new angle seems like a representation of joy or friendship. My newest leaf forms have a graphic minimalist quality, a reflection of my growing desire to simplify my life and the things that surround me.
My growth as an artist is a continuing one, sometimes a struggle and other times an accident, but always fueled by a desire to be better, technically and personally. My life is a reflection of my work and my work is a mirror of my life.