About

Hola! My name is Sarah Chamorro, and I'm the founder and creative force behind Bayou Brass.

I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and after Hurricane Katrina, I spent several formative years living in La Ceiba, Honduras. I am a first-generation Honduran-American—my parents immigrated to New Orleans in the 1980s—and that duality of cultures has deeply shaped both who I am and the work I create. 

Before Katrina, my dad would spend hours in our backyard cutting wood and constructing things by hand. He was a carpenter, and as a little girl, watching him transform raw materials into something beautiful left a lasting impression on me. I loved getting my hands dirty and helping him build, and that instinct—to create from scratch, with patience and care—has stayed with me ever since.                                       

I founded Bayou Brass in March of 2015. What began with beading evolved into wire wrapping, and eventually into metalsmithing. I am entirely self-taught and continue to learn every day. I am wholeheartedly in love with the process of working with my hands—shaping metal, setting stone, and allowing each piece to become a form of personal expression.

Every Bayou Brass piece is handmade in my New Orleans studio using ethically sourced metals and stones purchased from small and local suppliers. When you invest in Bayou Brass, you are supporting slow craftsmanship, intentional design, and work created with respect for both material and maker.

My designs are meant to be worn as an extension of one’s true self and cherished for lifetimes beyond your own. Much of my work is influenced by Honduran and African symbolism, with touches of Mayan typology woven throughout. This language of forms and symbols developed organically over time and has become an integral part of my visual identity.

All Bayou Brass designs are original—created, etched, and stamped entirely by free hand.

You can find my work in person at my booth at the Frenchmen Art Bazaar on Frenchmen Street, as well as at my brick-and-mortar shop, The Rougarou, located at 2275 St. Claude Avenue in New Orleans. These spaces allow me to connect directly with the community that continues to inspire my work and sustain my creative journey.

Thank you for being here and for valuing art made with intention.