Meet Lauren Coulson

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Coulson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve wanted to learn silversmithing for as long as I can remember and once I taught myself the basics, I created enough jewelry to start signing up for markets and events. I had creative freedom to design jewelry of my own and when I started up the business in 2022, it took off and turned into my full-time job since. I now travel for certain shows and am able to apply to national and international art residencies. I just came back from Iceland where I was an artist in residence for the month of February!

A little background into how it happened: I taught a few painting workshops in Boston after graduate school years ago where I focused on painting at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. When I moved back to Memphis to be with family years later, I bought the basic tools and equipment needed to work with silver and made a studio in the garage where I could work. Little did I know it would turn into a full-time job! It’s been a dream come true.

I’ve always been a night owl and when figuring out a name for my jewelry business, I thought Nocturnal Silver Studio was perfectly fitting! On a long list of possible business names, Nocturnal Silver Studio was the very first one I had written down and have kept it since.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I create one of a kind pieces of jewelry with a variety of stones that are set in sterling and fine silver with a southwestern flair and influenced by nature. Most items I make tend to be large statement pieces with handcrafted adornments, leaves and feathers along with stamped designs, while others are more delicate with a simpler design. I mostly work intuitively but other times I draw a design around the stone in a sketchbook and bring it to life by cutting and shaping various sterling silver wires and soldering them onto sheet silver with an intentional idea and design. Other than creating large statement jewelry, I also hand-stamp simple, stackable rings and cuffs. I prefer to create one of a kind statement pieces but will create a small series of rings on occasion.

I’m always excited about what the next piece will be and a lot of the time I have an idea for a pendant or ring that turns into something completely different. I just love the process and enjoy watching what each piece becomes. I have so many stones to choose from and there are endless possibilities on what each one will turn into.

My business has definitely been a work in progress- from finding the best displays and booth set-up to finding the markets and events that are best for me. I’m proud of what I’ve built so far and am looking forward to seeing how my business will grow in the next few years.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I rarely have time to get out these days but some spots I would take a friend visiting in town would be Sun Studio, Edge Motor Museum, Graceland, Gus’s Fried Chicken, Abyssinia Ethiopian restaurant, Kwik Check, some dive bars in Midtown, the Tiger and Peacock, a few spots on Beale Street and Harbor Town to name a few. I would definitely take them to the Brooks Museum, the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Crosstown Concourse and to a few galleries around town if they’re open. There are so many new spots that have opened in Memphis so I’d explore the town!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I absolutely would not be where I am if it wasn’t for my friends and family for their support- especially my dad who has allowed me to transform part of the garage into my studio and who helps me set up at all my events throughout the year. I want to shout out and thank all of the markets, festivals and event coordinators who have selected my work as one of the vendors in the last few years. I want to give a big thank you to the Collierville Farmers Market who chose me to be a vendor in 2o24 where I met so many amazing locals and other vendors as well as getting connected into other events. They have become like a second family to me!

Instagram: instagram.com/nocturnal.silver.studio and instagram.com/lauren.e.coulson

Facebook: facebook.com/nocturnal.silver.studio and facebook.com/lauren.elise.coulson