Vice-versa

Invisible Beauty: From Intestinal Cells to Contemporary Jewelry

When I began studying science at Concordia University, I had no idea it would one day lead me to a jewelry collection. What started as a personal journey into biology slowly transformed into Vice-versa — a collection inspired by my drawings of epithelial cells, those tiny, vital structures that line our intestines and allow nutrient absorption.

As someone with dyslexia, reading dense scientific material wasn’t easy. To truly understand what I was learning, I drew everything I could — cells, membranes, layers of tissue. These drawings became a kind of visual language, a way for my hands to remember what my memory sometimes couldn’t.

Among all the systems and structures I explored, I became fascinated with intestinal epithelial cells. These are the frontline workers of our digestive tract — absorbing nutrients, forming protective barriers, and constantly renewing themselves.

Later, I would be diagnosed with celiac disease — an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks its own epithelial cells when it detects gluten in the digestive tract. That moment gave a new weight to my drawings. These cells weren’t just abstract forms anymore — they were part of me.

Over time, my scientific sketches evolved into something more sculptural, often in copper. I began imagining what it would mean to wear these cells — to express their form, texture, and story through metal and volume. That’s how Vice-versa was born: a jewelry collection that transforms the drawn line — from something microscopic and hidden — into something tangible and seen, worn proudly instead of buried in the dark of our gut.

The pieces are not literal replicas of cells, but emotional translations — curves, patterns, divisions. Through silver, shapes, and space, I tell the story of invisible architecture and inner strength.