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Contemporary relics that connect the past with the present.
Casa Catalina Jewelry is created as a way to preserve memory, transform loss and to set intentions. Through metal, beads and oil paint, each artwork is crafted as a contemporary relic to hold legacy and honor traditional processes. Inspired by a lifetime of travel with echoes of ancient and medieval objects, each work connects the past with the present, mourning with celebration, love with reverence.
"Oil painting on copper, a technique originating with the Old Dutch Masters, allows me to apply intimate fragments of imagery directly to the jewelry piece itself."
These miniature works are merged with metal and beadwork, where each piece is woven, shaped, and finished by hand. The process is meditative — an act that transforms grief, remembrance, and sacredness into something tangible.
"I am deeply influenced by the travels of my upbringing. Growing up, I often visited museums, cathedrals, and historical sites, absorbing the treasured relics, architecture, and centuries-old paintings and artifacts. I carry that history with me into the studio, creating pieces that connect us to our timeless impulse to mark, honor and remember what we keep close and hold dear."
The jewelry portrays presence and continuity — each contemplating themes of home, the journeys that bring us back to it, and the lives that shape us along the way. The work goes beyond the simple transformation of materials. Casa Catalina jewelry reflects on memory, remembrance and devotion to create unique contemporary heirlooms.
Artist Statement
Caitlin Velázquez-Fagley is a jeweler, designer and lifelong traveler. She was born and raised in New Mexico and continues to create her work there.
Caitlin lived abroad in Spain for three years and upon returning, she enrolled in workshops to learn traditional metalsmithing techniques. After a year of developing many designs through practice and experimentation, Caitlin's work was featured in Vanity Fair UK.
She's taught stamping and repoussé workshops in Albuquerque as well as a semester at the Santa Fe Community College's Jewelry Program. She received a certificate in jewelry wax carving in Florence, Italy from Alessandro Dari to learn how to carve and sculpt wax by hand. She was selected nationwide as an emerging female jewelry designer for WJA's Jewelry Loupe Project in 2023. She completed the mentorship to create her Essentials line for Casa Catalina Jewelry which launched in 2024.