About

Comma is an artistic project by Melissa Horstman.

I went to culinary school when I was 19 and soon after found myself baking in Michelin-starred restaurants from San Francisco to New York. For years, my world revolved around grams and degrees. Over time, I took on more responsibility, managing teams, organizing workflows, and keeping everything—and everyone—in order. I owned multiple scales, color-coordinated my closet, and took genuine pride in my apartment’s minimalist appeal. I saw success in the details: precision, tidiness, control.

In 2022, I met my now partner Mike. We quickly moved in together, and we began building a life for ourselves. I remember telling a friend, almost casually, that I was ‘too happy to have a clean house.’ Even I was surprised when I said it. It didn’t sound much like me.

When I started making jewelry, I initially found comfort in the familiar structure of precision and exactness. But over time, something shifted—I began cutting wire without measuring, stopped needing every piece to be perfect. I was no longer following a recipe. Instead, I was measuring with intuition and trusting the process. Maybe happiness and creativity aren’t about perfection after all.

Choosing a name for this project was also its own journey. I went through ideas, shared them with friends, and searched for something modern and timeless. In the end, Comma felt right—a gentle pause, a place for new ideas to grow. Reflecting my shift from treasuring perfection to embracing whimsy, a reminder that creativity flourishes with a little room to breathe.

I can thank Mike's late mother, Linda, for inspiring this personal and artistic journey. Every piece of Comma is created with her tools, beads, and findings. She has given me so much in life to love and a way to carry her creativity forward.