Mary Jo Weiss

For Mary Jo Weiss, metalwork isn’t just a craft — it’s a lifelong journey rooted in the Midwest, where her love for art first began. Born and raised among open skies and hardworking hands, she eventually pursued her passion at Northern Illinois University, earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in metalwork.

In 1990, Mary Jo relocated to Central Oregon and settled in Sisters to raise her two daughters. Watching them play beneath the pines sparked the two forces that continue to shape her artistic voice today: nature and family. These influences appear in every curve, texture, and stone she chooses.

Over the years, Mary Jo has worked with numerous fine jewelers, eventually becoming fully independent in 2012. Shortly after, she helped create the Torch Jewelry Collective — a women-owned and operated cooperative dedicated to collaboration, encouragement, and shared creative space while still allowing each artist to maintain their own business.

She is the owner and artist behind Josepha Weiss Designs, and her passion for the craft extends far beyond her own bench. Mary Jo taught jewelry and metalworking at Central Oregon Community College and now offers workshops and small classes from her studio. After three decades in Central Oregon, she has cultivated a loyal local following and developed a distinct, award-winning style that is instantly recognizable.

While she values teaching and community, Mary Jo’s greatest joy comes from the creative process itself — watching a piece evolve from concept, to stone selection, to hand-textured metal as intuition leads the way. Her goal is simple and heartfelt: to create one-of-a-kind wearable art that her clients will cherish for generations.