Vanessa is the Jamaican born and NYC local artisan behind BQMNY, where she merges her love for social justice, jewelry fabrication, and community engagement. Vanessa is a creative leader and an award winning, self taught metalsmith that specializes in fine and semi-fine jewelry. Each piece is designed and hand crafted in the tiny corner of her L.E.S studio apartment that she shares with her 30+ plant children.

Vanessa is a licensed psychotherapist that has utilized her training to be a resource to her communities in more than one way. When she isn’t holding therapy sessions with clients, she’s creating gender expansive handmade jewelry, teaching under supported communities how to create their own jewelry, and leading DEI initiatives in the jewelry sector and beyond. Vanessa is a 2024 One For The Future honoree presented by NYJW and is featured in the book Women in Jewelry Who Rock, as well as, a variety of publications.

Vanessa hopes that BQMNY will continue to grow into a comprehensive jewelry line that offers heirloom pieces and apprenticeships to underserved communities.

As Above, So Below