About Kelli


Kelli Montgomery is a Connecticut-based jewelry artist creating joyful, handcrafted pieces designed to make you feel confident and amazing, wherever your day takes you.

My Story: Return to the Bench

After a long hiatus spent raising my two boys and competing as an elite triathlete, I am thrilled to be back at the jeweler's bench! During my time away from the studio, I channeled my energy into my athletic pursuits of elite triathlon and cycling, winning World and National age-group titles in off-road triathlon and cyclocross.

My love for the craft of jewelry began in a high school art class and led me to Syracuse University, where I earned a BFA in Metalsmithing. After a few years of honing my skills as a bench jeweler in a small shop, I stepped away—but a part of me missed creating art. Now, I’ve returned to my creative roots with more energy and perspective than ever before!

My Work: Art in Motion

My designs are deeply influenced by a life lived in motion. Whether I’m navigating trails or cycling through the mountains, swimming in the ocean, the repetition and flow of movement find their way into my metalwork. My adventures—from the jungles of Thailand and Brazil to the peaks of Mexico—inform the visual and sensory soul of my jewelry.

My Creative Process:

  • Organic Movement: I translate the repetitive nature of swimming, biking, and running into rhythmic shapes and patterns.

  • Tactile Exploration: I experiment with a range of metals, textures, and bold colors through gemstones and anodizing metals to create distinctive wearable art.

  • Design and Process: My process to get to the final design starts with a sketch, and many times I use Illustrator or Procreate to lay out the design shapes. From there, I move to physically fabricating each piece through traditional metalsmithing techniques. Every piece I create is a celebration of exploration and meticulous detail in craftsmanship. I look forward to sharing these unique, wearable designs with you as I continue to delve deeper into my craft.


Top Picture: Racing US National Xterra Championships Ogden, Utah (Off-road Triathlon Swim, Mountain Bike, Trail Run)
Bottom Picture: Off-Road Triathlon Ocean Swim Leg in the Dominican Republic. 

 

All designs and work are copyrighted and the property of Kelli Montgomery Designs LLC.