Wayne Werner is a “visionary” goldsmith/jeweler, educator and musician from Baltimore, Maryland, who has made his living on the fringes of the contemporary art and music scene for over 40 years.

Werner has traveled the world to learn with metalworkers from Italy and Egypt to Java and Bali. Specializing in cold-forging precious metals, Werner has incorporated the traditional techniques of gold- and platinum-smithing with his artistic vision of paying homage to the fertility cults of the ancient world.

Werner’s work explores the relationship to metals' liquid opus and the opus of mankind, both being a product of the earth cooling down. Through his work, he attempts to remind people of the miracle of life and the cosmic happening that we all are.

Primarily making a living representing himself and retailing his work, Werner has participated in over 350 high-end craft shows nationally and has taught over 100 workshops internationally. His work has received many awards, including the World Gold Council’s Gold Distinction Award and the MJSA Vision award for Mokume Gane.

Werner is a former instructor at the Fuji Studio in Florence, Italy, as well as Forge London, and was faculty at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore for 17 years. In 2006, He was asked to demonstrate his craft at The Mint Museum of Craft and Design in Charlotte, NC. His film work can be found in the Archives of Goldsmiths' Hall in London. He also enjoys playing vintage lap steel guitars and harmonica.

Werner is the founder of the ALCHEMIST PICNIC, an international event/symposium that seeks to foster appreciation for all arts as well as provide mentoring and peer to peer learning for artists.