The inspiration for Mio Studio’s distinctive sculptural jewelry is drawn from the diverse landscapes of artists/designers, Erica Millner and Mai Orama Muñiz’s lives - island rain forest to urban industrial. These varied influences transform rough materials into clean, modern, jewelry designs that express a unique artistic statement for the wearer. Mio Studio’s bold pieces are born from a marriage of exotic hardwoods and semi-precious metals. The hardwoods are carefully hand-selected; choosing each piece for its color, grain, and suitability for the intended design. The richly grained wood, often reclaimed or repurposed, becomes an expression of moving organic forms that hint at the natural flowing beauty of the lush green mountains of Utuado, or the pristine white-sand beaches of Vega Baja. Cool metals lend an urban edge to the designs which serve as a medium to channel rich abstract expressions that interpret Millner and Muñiz’s passion for balance and movement. All materials are hand-cut, sanded, and polished for hours, and then carefully finished with oil, to achieve the daring, sculptural quality that is the hallmark of Mio Studio original.