Extinction Brooch Series
Living in mist-shrouded mountain forests, the mountain gorilla embodies both immense strength and deep tenderness. This brooch renders its quiet intelligence through soft, rounded contours and densely layered beadwork in charcoal, graphite, and silvery black. Subtle shifts in tone trace the curve of the brow and the gentle focus of the eyes, where lighter beads gather to suggest breath, presence, and watchfulness.
The form is compact yet powerful, its surface built through patient repetition that echoes the gorilla’s grounded stillness. While the species once stood on the brink of extinction, recent conservation efforts have led to cautious recovery: as of late 2025, the wild population is estimated at approximately 1,063 individuals across Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This brooch holds that fragile hope, an emblem of resilience shaped by care, protection, and time.