About the Artist, About Ascendant
I’m Melissa, the owner, artist, and metalsmith behind Ascendant Jewelry Studio, based just outside of St. Louis, Missouri. I create one-of-a-kind, hand-fabricated sterling silver and yellow gold jewelry defined by fire, pressure, and the transformative power of the torch.
My work is an exploration of "things that go boom"—those moments in our lives, our psyches, and the natural world where energy builds beneath the surface until it finally demands a release. I look to the eruptive power of volcanoes and the violent grace of stellar explosions as metaphors for the human experience. Through my work, these invisible, internal pressures are given a physical, wearable form.
A Legacy of Adornment
My jewelry journey began with inheriting my grandmother’s collection of vintage jewelry as a young girl—a shimmering, tangled history given to me after she passed. Though I never met her in life, I felt I was getting to know her through the weight and texture of those pieces. I realized then that jewelry is more than decoration; it is a vessel for memory, and a way to carry history with us everyday.
This connection deepened during my MFA studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (2015). My research into the nuclear industry—and the tragic role it played in my grandmother’s life—fundamentally shaped my understanding of material power. I learned that the same elemental forces that alter landscapes also shape our personal stories. In my studio, I transmute that history, distilling the weight of the past into lasting, contemporary relics. That lineage of inquiry remains the heartbeat of my practice, grounding my designs in a deep sense of purpose while keeping the focus firmly on the beauty and resilience of the work itself.
The Studio as a Crucible
In my studio, the torch is my primary collaborator. Working in oxidized sterling silver and 18-karat gold, I use high-heat fusion to coax the metal into forms that echo cooled lava and shifting terrain. My signature "V" cut-outs act as conduits, directing energy toward a central focal point, transforming ancient gestures of prayer into modern symbols of connection.
When you wear an Ascendant piece, you aren’t just wearing jewelry; you are carrying a contemporary relic—a physical testament to the heat of your own journey and the courage it takes to bring what lies beneath the surface into the light.
A Partnership of Purpose
While Ascendant is my vision, and I am the sole designer and main hands behind the bench—this jewelry dream of mine is brought to life alongside my husband and partner, Chris Myers. As my production assistant, business manager, and the eye behind our photography and graphic design, Chris handles many of the day-to-day operations and oversees our visual presence, ensuring the true character of my work is always clear. Having him by my side gives me the time and space to be at the bench where I belong.
What’s in a Name
Choosing Ascendant as the name of my jewelry studio was intentional and rooted in 3 distinct paths of meaning that guide my work.
The Threshold: In the language of astrology, the Ascendant represents the threshold where our inner self meets the outside world; I believe that our adornment—the jewelry we select—is a vital, conscious extension of that outward identity.
The Lineage: The name is also a deeply personal homage to my own ascendants—the generations who came before me, whose histories are etched into my own and reflected in my work.
The Elevation: I believe that when we honor our true callings, we elevate the collective. My pursuit of conceptual, spirit-driven jewelry is my way of contributing to that shared ascent—a belief that by living with purpose, we help lift one another up.
- Melissa Hampton / Ascendant Jewelry Studio
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