Jemée, a tooth gem artist based in Montreal, learned the craft in 2020 from a dental hygienist in Los Angeles. She borrowed dental-grade materials and the bonding techniques of orthodontics and honed them into a method of her own, and in 2023 she landed on the NextGen list at the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards.
Where the usual tooth gem stops at a crystal or two, set to catch the light, Jemée strings black microbeads together like pointillism and writes cursive sentences across the teeth. A texture closer to ink than sparkle, letters instead of jewels. Mixed in are graphics: a treble clef and stars, houndstooth check, an alien's face, so that a single tooth becomes a small frame. Her portfolio spans "Endless Runway" across the front teeth, "Kiss me" on one side and a bar of sheet music on the other, even "OCTOV" for a party.
On a canvas that shows itself only in glimpses, each time she smiles, sits the most intricate typography in the world. A declaration revealed beyond the lips, a piece of lettering the body wears. Teeth are no longer just for ornament; they have become a surface for story.
What sentence would you want carved onto your own teeth?
Where the usual tooth gem stops at a crystal or two, set to catch the light, Jemée strings black microbeads together like pointillism and writes cursive sentences across the teeth. A texture closer to ink than sparkle, letters instead of jewels. Mixed in are graphics: a treble clef and stars, houndstooth check, an alien's face, so that a single tooth becomes a small frame. Her portfolio spans "Endless Runway" across the front teeth, "Kiss me" on one side and a bar of sheet music on the other, even "OCTOV" for a party.
On a canvas that shows itself only in glimpses, each time she smiles, sits the most intricate typography in the world. A declaration revealed beyond the lips, a piece of lettering the body wears. Teeth are no longer just for ornament; they have become a surface for story.
What sentence would you want carved onto your own teeth?
FAQ
Where is toothgem artist Gemme based?
Gemme is a toothgem artist based in Montreal, Canada. She learned the technique from a dental hygienist in LA in 2020 and was named to the 2023 Canadian Arts/Fashion Awards NewGen list.
How is Gemme's toothgem work different from typical toothgems?
Instead of crystals, Gemme uses black microbeads applied like pointillism to create cursive sentences or graphics across the teeth. Her work has an ink-like texture rather than sparkle, featuring phrases like 'Endless Runway' or 'Kiss me.'
How did Gemme learn the toothgem technique?
Gemme learned the technique from a dental hygienist in LA in 2020. She refined dental materials and orthodontic bonding methods into her own unique approach, developing a distinctive working style.
