our story
about the artist
Hi, I’m Jen. I’m the owner and artist behind After Oak.
I started with a beginner’s metal class and my unhinged desire to experiment. As I learned to shape and solder copper, I found that metalsmithing filled me with an unexpected power. I was hungry to learn more. On my own, I began exploring electroforming, an intricate electrochemical process used to fuse copper to other surfaces. After years of researching, troubleshooting mistakes, reworking failed projects and chasing my vision, After Oak was born.
Through my thoughtful and creative processes, I hope to bring you a carefully crafted piece of art that evokes fierce curiosity, wild imagination, and appreciation for natural beauty.
seeking green
Spending a lot of time in Philadelphia for school and work, I began to miss green spaces and trees. Nature was a muse for most of my art, so I made efforts to seek green in a generally gray terrain. And I began to realize how much nature still surrounds us in the city. Through my work I hope to bring a little piece of Philadelphia nature right to your fingertips and guide you to greener spaces.
I want to deepen the appreciation for the endless intricacies of nature by preserving pieces of earth that are typically overlooked, such as a leaf or nut, and highlighting its beauty. I enjoy working with plants and trees not only because of their beauty but because of their symbolism, representing growth and perseverance. For me, they also represent passage of time and evoke a sense of nostalgia.
Foraging materials for my jewelry brings me back to a time when I collected acorns as a child, playing among trees and picking grass. Many share a similar memory I hope to which they can reconnect.
sustainability and giving back
I don’t just honor earth through symbolism but through action. After Oak is dedicated to sustainability and ethical practices. This means sourcing recycled or second hand materials whenever possible for packaging, marketing, and production, properly handling and disposing of hazardous waste, conserving precious resources such as water, and responsibly and ethically foraging nature and sourcing stones. I am also dedicated to social and environmental justice. I donate a portion of every sale to planting trees around the city of Philadelphia, as well as to various organizations focused on social justice.