Art makes the invisible visible. It’s a story, a language, a color, & a feeling, and it existed long before and will outlive us all.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
Wearable art disguised as fine jewelry and sculptural objects. Baubles that merge natural minerals with storytelling—pieces that feel both antique and entirely new. I love to push the boundaries of impossible to a dream like phase where fantasies exist and I turn those to wearable art through an anthropological lens.
Where do you find inspiration?I collect. Since I was a child I love to hunt art, antiques, and minerals and gemstones since I could walk. I craved to learn about the anthropology of objects. The interesting objects used in times that have passed like women wearing live chameleons in the Victorian times and mustard pots hosting cobalt glass and creative spoons. I find inspiration in the garden, in the facades of urban buildings, in conversations, art, and of course- mother nature's best creation- minerals.
What would you do with $25,000?I’d build an immersive environment-part jewel box, part natural history, part surreal installation. Think rare minerals, one-of-a-kind jewelry, and unexpected objects staged with light, reflection, and tension. I would create a space that feels both seductive and slightly unsettling—where beauty, rarity, and raw nature collide. The goal is to create a visceral, unforgettable experience that shifts how people engage with objects and space.
Vote for Susan Oliver Heard to become The People's Artist while supporting a great cause! Cast your free daily vote or make an even bigger impact when you vote by donation, supporting The Art of Elysium in their mission to use art as a catalyst to help people triumph over difficult life challenges.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like The People's Artist, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
