About the Artist
Susanne Verallo is a self-taught, multidisciplinary jewelry artist and designer based in Cebu City, Philippines. Her jewelry practice centers around themes of Filipino cultural identity explored through the lens of Philippine folklore and mythology.
Art and craft have always been Susanne's passion. She graduated with a BS in Interior Design from the University of San Carlos in Cebu, and a Masters in Product Design from Domus Academy in Milan, Italy. While working as a furniture and interior designer, she soon found her true love in jewelry.
In 2017 she launched her eponymous jewelry label, Susanne Verallo. Her jewelry is inspired by precolonial Filipino culture, and features the art of Cebuano shell inlay created in collaboration with Cebuano artisans. Each piece makes use of seashell offcuts salvaged from Cebu's furniture and fashion industries. Her collections have been exhibited in Manila, Tokyo, and Los Angeles.
As the world – and production on her jewelry line – ground to a halt during the pandemic of 2020, Susanne reinvented herself again. She combined her newfound lockdown hobby of beadwork with her ongoing research on Philippine mythology to create Una Artesana, a jewelry line inspired by Filipino folklore. As Una Artesana, Susanne continues to explore different jewelry-making techniques and materials to tell the stories of her ancestors. She has since released three major collection themes as Una Artesana, each of which continue to sell out with every launch.
Shop and discover more of her work at susanneverallo.com and una-artesana.com.
Artist
Statement
Jewelry is so much more than mere decoration. Its personal and intimate nature makes it the perfect vessel for stories, and in my work as a jewelry artist, I use it to tell the stories of the Filipino people.
The Philippines, my home, is an endless source of inspiration. From the myths and legends of our ancestors, to the beauty of our islands, each jewelry piece I create is a celebration of our history and culture. My pieces are an invitation to decolonise and reconnect with our heritage.
CV
2011
Domus Academy
Master in Product Design.
Awarded additional certificate of completion by the University of Wales.
Milan, Italy
2005 - 2009
University of San Carlos
Bachelor of Science in Interior Design.
Cebu City, Philippines
2022
New York City Jewelry Week
Presenter, “Searching For Our Filipino Identity: Finding Ancestral Heritage in Jewelry” - a presentation on the precolonial jewelry history of the Philippines.
Watch the presentation here.
2024
Museum of Beadwork
Exhibiting artist. Emerging Beader Program - an exhibition showcasing the works of emerging bead artists at the Museum of Beadwork, Portland, Maine, USA.
Exhibitions
Education
2019
PULO Project
Exhibiting designer. Installations and experiences dedicated to the art and culture of the
Philippines, in Los Angeles, USA.
2018
Go Lokal! Tokyo
Exhibiting designer. Initiative by the Department of Trade and Industry to bring Filipino jewelry, fashion and crafts to Tokyo, Japan.
2017
Chambers: The Cebu Project
Exhibiting designer. An exhibit highlighting select designers from Cebu who specialize in handmade Filipino crafts. Held during the 2017 Manila FAME trade show.