Get To Know… Drew Martin
A deep dive into all things ‘arts and ents’.
Words Indigo James // Image supplied
Drew Martin is the brains (and hands) behind metal-forward jewellery label, Outcast Goods and Services, specialising in handmade, high-quality .925 sterling silver pieces built to last. Amongst ruby red hearts and celestial shapes, her signature crucifixes feature heavily – an ironic souvenir from too many years at Catholic school. Her process is gut-led, instinctive, and shaped by the belief that no idea is truly original – we’re all just collecting fragments from daily life, the street, or the internet void. With a Fine Arts background and a history in festivals, she now lives a “double life” – balancing the grind with slower, hands-on making. Outcast reflects her love of construction, collaboration and texture, with sustainable, small-scale production and an open invitation to create together.
Tell us about your practice.
I consider myself to be a bit of a magpie, always drawn to shiny objects. Making jewellery satisfies that part of me. I make things that I would personally love to wear, so it was, and still is, hard to actually part with pieces. Outcast is textural, playful but raw, unfinished yet intentional. Not bound by wearable objects. When I picked a name for the brand, I purposefully avoided words that limited it to just jewellery, so I can experiment with a range of mediums.
You’ve just launched your jewellery label but your background is in running festivals. Has that influenced your approach to this new venture?
Outcast was a step away from that. I wanted to do something that was my own and completely under my creative control. I still dabble in festival work; it’s such a grind, but I love the hustle. I like to think I live a double life sometimes.
Where do the ideas for your jewellery pieces usually begin?
Gut feeling, baby. I believe there’s no such thing as a truly original idea. Every day we unconsciously collect small fragments from other people, things we see on the street, what people are wearing, the void of the internet. Ego aside, my work is just a reflection of what I see day in, day out, but with a personal twist.
What’s your earliest memory of making art?
Damn, this is taking it back! My earliest memory would be playing ‘Ello’ with my girl Alex. Ello was a construction-based toy made by Mattel around 2002. At the time, it was the equivalent of Lego but marketed to teen girls. I think it sparked that love for working out how things are engineered; build it up to then just destroy it. Ironically (and iconically), you could even make jewellery out of Ello.
What is your favourite piece of jewellery you’ve made?
Tough question. I’d have to say my first crucifix. I was in Bali on holiday, making jewellery in the hotel room, and a friend’s birthday was approaching. A crucifix pendant seemed fitting, but I ended up loving it too much and never gave it to her (sorry, babe). I guess I became obsessed, to the point where it’s now a signature style, with many iterations. This could be the only thing that stuck with me from... how many years at a Catholic school?
If you could create a piece of jewellery for anyone in the world, who would it be?
There could only be one, Erykah Badu.
Who are your 3 top artists right now?
Changes every day, so today I’d say... Schiller jewellery, Germany. Everything from Abigail Lucien, New York. Lana Launay’s antique doily lamps, Australia!
Any upcoming projects you’re excited about?
A few things in the works that are a long time coming. Watch this space – we’re talkin’ heavy hardware, leathers, buckles, belly rings. All aside, I love when people come to me with custom ideas, it’s fun to collaborate in that way.
Keep up to date with everything Drew Martin is working on via @outcast_goodsandservices.
