Bio & CV

Biography

Lonna Keller is an artist working in jewelry and metalsmithing. Her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the United States and abroad, and is included in the permanent collections of the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum of Arts and Design, New York.

Keller received her MFA in metalsmithing from the University of Iowa. She holds a BFA in metalsmithing and a BS in sociology/anthropology from Nebraska Wesleyan University. Her studio practice blends traditional metalsmithing with experimental use of materials, incorporating recycled plastics alongside sterling silver, anodized aluminum, gemstones, and other media, through which she examines form, function, and material presence in wearable work. Her pieces have appeared in multiple reference publications on contemporary jewelry practice, including Art Jewelry Today and 500 Silver Jewelry Designs.

CV

SELECTED NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INVITATIONAL EXHIBITIONS

2026 “WAM! Wearable Art Museum Inaugural Exhibition,” NYC Jewelry Week, Ottra, Brooklyn, NY  
2025 “The Original Couture Affair,” Wearable Art Museum, The Biltmore, Miami, FL  
2024 “Come On, Come Over Vol. 1,” Elder Gallery, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE (Mar 1 - Apr 6)  
2023 “Gifted,” LUX Center for The Arts, Lincoln, NE (Nov 3 - Feb 7)  
2022 “Wearable Art: A Catalyst for Conversation,” The Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton, CA (July 1 - July 16)  
2021 “Contrary to the Ordinary,” Scape Gallery, Corona del Mar, CA (July 2 – Aug 7)   
2020 “Hard Won, Not Done,” Muscatine Art Center, Muscatine, IA (Jan 18 – Apr 12)  
2019 “Adornment,” Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE (Sep 29, 2018 – Feb 3, 2019)  
2012  “Hanging Around: MAD Necklaces,” Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY (Jan 2 – May 20)  
2011 “24 Jewelers = 24 Chains,” Blue Heron Gallery, Deer Isle, ME 
2011 “The Third Iowa Metals Guild Exhibition: Raising Expectations,” Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA  
2009   “Jewelry in Motion,” Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA 
2009 “41st Annual Celebration of American Crafts,” Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven, CT  
2008 “Metals Iowa: Making Connections,” Russian State Pedagogical University College of Art, St. Petersburg, Russia 
2008 “Interfaced,” Hoffman Gallery, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR (Feb 7 – Mar 2)
2008  “40th Annual Celebration of American Crafts,” Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven, CT  
2007 “Drawing The Line: From Paper to Pearls,” John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI (May 6 – July 22) 
2007 “Flirting with Seduction,” The Works Gallery, Philadelphia, PA (Nov 2 – Nov 30) 
2007 “39th Annual Celebration of American Crafts,” Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven CT  

SELECTED NATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITIONS

2020 “Feel the Frill,” Sculpture to Wear Gallery, Online  
2007 “Materials Matters,” The Albrecht – Kemper Museum of Art, Saint Joseph, MO   
2007 “Stretching the Threads,” Atlantic Center for the Arts at Harris House, New Smyrna Beach, FL  
2003  “Jewels and Gems,” Smithsonian American Art Museum, Renwick Gallery, Washington, DC  
2003 “2003 Alumni Exhibition,” Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE
2002 “Material Explorations: Wearable Objects of Non-traditional Materials,” Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute, Utica, NY (jurors Chris Irick and Tacey Rosolowski) (Mar 29 – Apr 20)  
2002  “Show of Permanent Collection,” Smithsonian American Art Museum, Renwick Gallery, Washington, DC

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2008  “Out of the Ordinary,” Gallery 305A, Illinois Central College, East Peoria, Il (Nov 4 – Dec 4) 
2008 “Studies in Ornamentation,” Janalyn Hanson White Gallery, Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, IA (Jan 4 - Jan 31)

MUSEUM COLLECTIONS

 Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY (2009) 
Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (1999) 
Wearable Art Museum, North Hollywood, CA (2025)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

2021 Chunghi Choo and Her Students, Jane Milosch, Arnoldsche Art Publishers, Stuttgart, Germany  
2011 500 Silver Jewelry Designs, Marthe Le Van, Lark Crafts, New York, NY
2008 Art Jewelry Today 2, Jeffrey B. Snyder, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., Atglen, PA  
2003 Art Jewelry Today, Dona Meilach, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., Atglen, PA  
2002 “Exhibition in Print,” Metalsmith Magazine, Biba Schutz, Helen Shirk, Joe Wood  
2000 “Consciously Adorned,” Metalsmith Magazine, Tacey Rosolowsky

EDUCATION

1998 M.F.A., Metalsmithing, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA  
1994 B.F.A., Metalsmithing; B.S., Sociology/Anthropology, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE