Ardapony Jewelry
Samuel Mayo is the designer and craftsman behind Ardapony Jewelry, a collection of wearable and spiritual art rooted in natural materials and ancient traditions. Working with silver, brass, bronze, copper, and gold, Samuel is meticulous about using only genuine natural stones in his work. His style, which he refers to as "ancient," draws inspiration from more than a decade of a unique ritual: burying jewelry across the United States and throughout the Phoenix Valley mountains—allowing time and earth to become collaborators in his creative process.
Samuel designs not just for the body, but also for the home and soul. His collections include "The Sun and I" (2013) and the multi-year project "Body Home Soul" (2014–2017), where his design "Spirits and Souls" won second place in the statewide Milkweeds contest at the 2017 Arizona State Fair.
His artistry deepened during his time at Cosanti in Paradise Valley, AZ, where he worked as a Cause Bell artisan and discovered a love for sand casting and the expressive power of bronze. In 2020, he co-founded Ardapony Squared with fellow artist Jody Mills. Their collaborative designs were featured in a three-month showcase in Vogue magazine.
Samuel’s pieces have found homes on both sides of the globe, treasured by collectors who continue to return for new, one-of-a-kind works. His creative philosophy remains simple but powerful: “one of a kind, or same same but different.”
Having moved to Phoenix in 2004 after hearing that the desert is a "meeting place," Samuel continues to create with intention, honoring meaning, spirit, and connection through every design.
