WNC Craft Futures Cohort
2025
Summer Merritt brings a diverse background in art and a passion for craftsmanship to her jewelry creations. She holds a BFA in Design and an MFA in Sculpture from California State University, Long Beach, where her work explored form, material, and the way our bodies interact with objects. While pursuing her graduate studies, she also worked as an optician, a practical decision that provided steady work while honing her technical skills.
During her 16-year career, Merritt worked extensively with a collection dedicated to restoring and preserving antique eyewear. This experience gave her firsthand knowledge of gold-filled frames and precision tools — skills that would later become essential at her jewelry bench. In 2020, after stepping away from opticianry, Merritt turned her focus to woodworking, and on Christmas Day of that year, she created a piece of jewelry for herself. This moment opened a new creative path, leading her to fully transition from woodworker to jewelry artist by 2022.
Today, Merritt crafts sculptural, heirloom-quality jewelry that transforms precious wood into wearable art, integrating new materials that accentuate its natural beauty. Working from her studio in Weaverville, NC, she continues to refine her practice, bridging the worlds of sculpture and adornment.
Selected works
67 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 785-1357 | info@centerforcraft.org
Gallery Hours: Tues–Sat, 10–6 get more info
Gallery Hours: Closed — Reopening Fall 2019
