For more than 25 years, jewelry artist Robin Black Walder, aka BlackBird, has been creating adornment with intention. Her work isn’t just about beauty; it’s about awareness, mindfulness, and connection. Every design is original, born from Robin’s mind and hands, and brought to life through the ancient arts of lost wax carving, metalsmithing, and meditative beadwork.
Robin draws inspiration from nature, symbolism, and the quiet lessons found in everyday life. Fossils, the rhythm of the tides, martial arts, posture, kindness, and meditation all weave their way into her jewelry. The result is work that feels alive... pieces that carry a story, a reminder, or a practice of mindfulness for the wearer.
A Journey Carved in Metal and Meaning
Robin’s path to jewelry was anything but straight. After graduating from East Carolina University, she worked in law and radio advertising before listening to the pull of her true calling: metalsmithing. In 1995, she trained at the Miami Jewelry Institute, then moved to New York City where BlackBird Jewelry was born. There, in the heart of the Jewelry District, Robin refined her craft as a bench jeweler and machinist, created her signature BackBeads, and deepened her love of wax carving and sculpture. She also practiced Taoist tai chi which later led to her creation of the popular TAO element charm component system.
Her journey carried her back to Miami Beach and later to Asheville, North Carolina, where she balanced her creative life with raising three children and teaching Pilates. Ultimately, the ocean called her home. Today, Robin is rooted in Jupiter, Florida, where her studio is filled with the same symbolic, sculptural spirit that has always guided her work.
Resilience, Awareness, and Purpose
In 2015, Robin’s life was profoundly reshaped by brain surgery. Guided by years of meditation and mindfulness practice, she leaned on intuition, resilience, and trust to move forward. This experience affirmed her belief that jewelry can be more than adornment... it can be a tool for healing, reflection, and empowerment.
Since then, Robin has partnered with nonprofits to use her art as a way to spark conversation and support causes close to her heart, from marine conservation to human wellness. Each collection — whether Threaders, sculptural one-of-a-kinds, or her evolving system of interchangeable components — is designed to carry meaning and encourage awareness in the everyday.
Awareness Through Adornment
At its core, BlackBird Jewelry is a practice in mindfulness. Every necklace, bracelet, or pair of earrings is an invitation to pause, breathe, and return to presence. Robin’s mission is not just to make jewelry, but to craft ritual objects for self-reflection, empowerment, and connection to the self, to others, and to the natural world.
Through Awareness Through Adornment, Robin continues to share her art as a reminder that jewelry is more than decoration. It’s a practice. A story. A way of being.
Follow along with Robin by joining our circle below and save 10% on your order. Plus, early access, mindful practices & adornment with purpose await.
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