We recently connected with Michael Marx and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Michael thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I’ve been a sculptor and artist for as long as I can remember. As a child, my gifts were just as often art supplies as they were toys or books. I’m primarily self-taught as a sculptor, but everything changed when I took my first metal clay class in 2000—I was instantly hooked.
Looking back, I wish I’d taken a few more metal clay workshops and some introductory silversmithing or jewelry classes early on. That would have definitely accelerated my progress. The most essential skills I’ve developed are mastering proper rolling and texturing techniques, building strong, well-constructed pieces, and deeply understanding both the limitations and advantages of the material.
The biggest obstacles in my learning were my fear of soldering and a bit of stubbornness that kept me from taking a class to properly learn it. Overcoming that would have opened even more doors sooner.
Michael, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Michael J. Marx, the artist behind Unsane Art. Creating has always been second nature to me. My journey into jewelry truly took shape when I discovered metal clay in 2000. It was like finding the perfect medium: it combined my love of sculpture with the allure of precious metal, opening up endless creative possibilities.
Through Unsane Art, I specialize in designing and handcrafting fine silver jewelry, often featuring unexpected, dynamic elements — from kinetic pendants that spin and move to pieces with rich textures drawn from nature, geometry, and pure imagination. Many of my creations incorporate beautiful stones like cultured opals, dichroic glass I fuse, found rocks that I cabbed or striking textures that tell tiny stories.
What sets my work apart is a playful, sometimes mischievous spirit paired with meticulous craftsmanship. I love building pieces that invite touch and interaction — jewelry that surprises you or makes you smile. It’s important to me that my work feels personal and a little bit otherworldly, as if it came from a dream or an untold fairy tale.
Beyond making one-of-a-kind pieces, I also teach workshops, sharing my techniques and helping others bring their own creative visions to life. Whether it’s guiding students in rolling and texturing metal clay or coaching them through sculptural construction, I take pride in demystifying the process and showing how approachable it can be.
I’m most proud of the way my art has allowed me to connect with so many people — whether they’re wearing my jewelry as a daily talisman, learning to craft their own stories in metal, or simply finding joy in seeing something a little “unsane.”
At the end of the day, I want clients, students, and collectors to know that Unsane Art is all about imagination, quality, and creating something that resonates uniquely with them. Each piece is thoughtfully made, meant to be a small escape from the ordinary — wearable art that feels both playful and precious.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is seeing how something that started in my head — a fleeting idea, a weird little sketch — becomes a real, tangible object that someone else connects with. I love watching people pick up a piece of my jewelry and instinctively start turning it, flipping it over to see a finished or embellished back, or just running their fingers over the textures. It means I’ve created something that invites curiosity and sparks a moment of joy or wonder.
It’s also incredibly fulfilling to teach and watch that lightbulb go off for someone else — when a student realizes they can take this squishy bit of clay and turn it into a beautiful piece of fine silver jewelry. Helping others unlock their own creativity is just as meaningful to me as making my own work.
Ultimately, it’s about sharing little stories and moments of delight, and knowing that something I made might become someone’s favorite piece — their personal talisman. That connection is what keeps me hooked.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
At the heart of my creative journey is a mission to bring a sense of wonder, playfulness, and a little bit of the unexpected into people’s everyday lives. I want my jewelry to be more than just decoration — I want it to be a tiny piece of art that makes someone pause, smile, or get lost in its details.
I’m also driven by a love of storytelling through form and texture. Whether it’s a kinetic pendant that moves in surprising ways or a piece that looks like it was plucked from some strange dreamscape, my goal is always to spark curiosity and let people carry a bit of that magic with them.
Beyond my own work, I’m passionate about helping others discover how approachable and rewarding it is to create their own wearable art. Teaching metal clay has become just as important to me as making my own pieces — watching students surprise themselves with what they can create is endlessly satisfying.
In the end, it all comes down to this: I want to make (and help others make) things that feel meaningful, delight the senses, and add a touch of the “unsane” to the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: www,unsaneart.com
- Instagram: @unsaneart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnsaneArt
Image Credits
Michael J. Marx