Caitlin Albritton's unique jewelry blends art, storytelling, and nature
For local artist Caitlin Albritton, the saying "creativity takes courage" is more than just a phrase. It's a guiding principle behind her work, as she transforms natural elements into jewelry that reflects emotion, movement, and meaning.
A Tampa Bay native, Albritton uses inspiration from the Earth to create jewelry that brings colorful stones to life. As a lapidary jeweler, she crafts one-of-a-kind pieces from ethically sourced rocks and minerals, blending her love of the outdoors with personal expression.
"Being born and raised in Florida, we have a big treasure culture," said Albritton. "I've always been interested in treasures of all kinds, not only mankind, but the treasures of Mother Earth as well."
From painting to lapidary jewelry
Albritton is also an accomplished painter, with her works featured in several exhibitions across Florida. Her paintings use vibrant colors to amplify everyday behaviors, with a focus on the human body in public spaces. With fitness in mind, Albritton says her paintings aim to exemplify the strangeness of the human body by telling gym stories through serious, yet comically visual narratives. After grad school, Albritton made it her goal to marry her passion for painting with rock hunting in a meaningful way.
"As a kind of painter with rocks, I have to create the palette that I want to see in my own works," said Albritton. "It all starts with a drawing. Everything is about the drawing and what kind of emotions I want to get out of the piece."
For Albritton, it's her figurative inlay pendants that turn body language into fashion. With an idea in mind, Albritton uses a variety of rocks to display different emotions that bring the jewelry to life.
"The process includes a lot of thought from the beginning to the end," said Albritton. "I'm focused on the body language of the piece because it needs to tell a story without using a face."
From struggle to success
Like many artists, Albritton's unique style stems in-part from an internal battle. Albritton says much of her work is based on a personal battle she experienced in high school and into college. The Tampa native says she used art as a form of therapy to pull herself out of that struggle. Out of the darkness, Albritton took her art to another level, creating pieces that aim to inspire and resonate with others.
"Instead of having work about being down in the dumps, I wanted to create uplifting work," said Albritton. "I wanted to create work that explored the struggle and the success of getting out of a difficult place in my life."
Showcasing her work in the Tampa Bay region
Albritton was featured as a local jewelry artist for the 2026 Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in Tampa. She was one of five artists selected by the prestigious Local Artist Spotlight program, showcasing her figurative inlay jewelry at the downtown event. For Albritton, it was a full-circle moment. She attended the festival as a child and recalled meeting artists who were showcasing their work at the time.
"The Gasparilla Festival of Arts is always a big part of life for someone who is from Tampa," said Albritton. "To be a part of it meant the world to me. It's a big deal, not just locally but nationally, it's a big show."
Message to future artists
Albritton attributes her success in part to the lapidary community, a small number of artists who have perfected the art of cutting stones. She describes the community as nurturing, saying there is a push to keep the art form alive. Albritton draws inspiration from Native American artists for their use of color and technique. As for a message to future lapidary artists, she says never give up.
"Always follow where your vision leads you," said Albritton. "It always makes me proud to see someone wearing my art. Nothing is better than that feeling than seeing your work living a life away from you."
Hillsborough County Arts Council Grant Programs
Caitlin Albritton is a recipient of the Arts Council of Hillsborough County's Professional Development for Artists (PDA) Grant. This grant program provides support for specific projects that advance the careers of artists in Hillsborough County. The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts also receives funding from the Special Event Partnership Grant program. This grant program is designed to strengthen and promote cultural assets by growing and supporting arts and cultural events.
For more information, visit Arts Council of Hillsborough County.