Salt Grass Jewelry is a reminder of our devotion to nature. Our purpose is to create timeless jewelry that feels both modern and of the earth.
Founded in 2016 by metal artist Kristi Frank Montaño, Salt Grass Jewelry is a celebration of sculptural abstraction, storytelling, sacred objects, and craftsmanship. Before launching her brand, Kristi honed her skills and worked her booty off producing jewelry for notable designers in New York City and Maine. Born and raised in Northern New Mexico, her work is often distinguished by symbolic shapes and textures inspired by the high desert. She is known for her intuitive connection with gems and minerals and for creating epically cool bridal pieces.
The name Salt Grass comes from Distichlis spicata, a species of grass also known as desert saltgrass. Desert saltgrass can be found throughout the Americas, and locally it thrives along the clay riverbanks of the Rio Grande.
SLOW-MADE PRACTICES
Salt Grass jewelry embraces a slow-made ethos, prioritizing quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail over the dirty production of fast fashion and cookie-cutter designs that flood the industry. We thoughtfully create with a commitment to sustainability utilizing recycled metals as much as possible. Each Salt Grass piece can be handed down for generations with minimal waste and carbon footprint.
HONORING INDIGENOUS LANDS
Creating on stolen Tewa land in Oga’Pogeh Owingeh. We honor the Tewa people and their ancestors, the ancient Puebloans, and recognize the violence against them over generations and their fight for Indigenous sovereignty. We believe in reparative action and striving to be good ancestors in all that we do.