Miranda — Jewelry Artist
Southern Illinois

Miranda is a jewelry artist based in Southern Illinois whose work explores the often unspoken realities of infertility, reproductive health, and the social expectations placed on the body. For many, starting a family is often seen as a milestone that will come easy and naturally. This belief often overlooks the reality that the path to parenthood can be fraught with challenges. Statistics reveal that one in six couples face infertility, requiring medical intervention to conceive. Treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) often become an essential need for many couples on their path to parenthood. However, this is often met with extreme opposition due to cultural, religious, and historical norms which place immense pressure on couples to conceive without aid; prioritizing natural conception as the ideal path to parenthood.

These cultural ideals are not only unrealistic for many but also fail to recognize the complexity of reproductive health. These historically imposed social constructs surrounding women's bodies and roles echo a deep-rooted expectation of “naturalness”. This myth creates a false narrative that ability to conceive and carry to term is simple and straightforward process, and anyone who deviates from that norm is somehow lacking or broken.

In Miranda’s recent series, she addresses these sensitive topics to initiate and normalize conversations about the weight of infertility. The physical and deeply emotional toll it takes on the body is visually communicated through thoughtfully chosen materials such as copper, silver, and gold to symbolize the complexities surrounding fertility. Silver represents the need for medical intervention, copper reflects the body itself, and gold is incorporated to symbolize protection, luck, and the precious fragility of fertility. These metals are combined to serve as a representation of the emotional journey when confronting the challenges of infertility. This work is designed to spark reflection and introspection, encouraging the viewer to consider the pressures and judgments individuals face regarding their bodies and reproductive choices. The exploration of these issues opens a space for dialogue and understanding by Inviting the viewer to recognize the emotional weight carried by those affected and the strength it takes to persist in the face of infertility.