A silver ring against a neutral, light background. The ring features an irregular, cratered form resembling an asteroid mounted at the top of the band. The form and band are fully polished but intentionally irregular rather than delicate. The surface is textured with small pits, scrapes, two larger depressions, and smooth highlights, evoking the appearance of a metallic planetary body.
A silver ring against a neutral, light background. The ring features an irregular, cratered form resembling an asteroid mounted at the top of the band. The form and band are fully polished but intentionally irregular rather than delicate. The surface is textured with small pits, scrapes, two larger depressions, and smooth highlights, evoking the appearance of a metallic planetary body.
A silver ring against a neutral, light background. The ring features an irregular, cratered form resembling an asteroid mounted at the top of the band. The form and band are fully polished but intentionally irregular rather than delicate. The surface is textured with small pits, scrapes, two larger depressions, and smooth highlights, evoking the appearance of a metallic planetary body.

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Asteroid Ring (16 Psyche)

Caitlin RiChard

February 23rd, 2026

Major: Biological Sciences & Art

Genre/Medium: Wearable sculpture; .999 fine silver metal clay, torch-fired.

About the work:

Asteroid Ring (16 Psyche) is a wearable sculpture inspired by NASA’s Psyche mission and the eponymous asteroid it will study, believed to be composed largely of metal. This piece brings the material qualities of the distant asteroid 16 Psyche into physical proximity with the human body. The choice of a ring, an object associated with long-term commitment, mirrors the sustained dedication required by a multi-year planetary mission.

The ring was formed from .999 fine silver metal clay, shaped by hand to reference the irregular mass, voids, and surface complexity of an asteroid. After firing, the piece was refined through oxidation removal, burnishing, and hand polishing. The ring was worn by the artist for one week during daily tasks, allowing time, movement, and repeated contact to shape its surface and build a sense of attachment.

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Date Added: 02-23-2026
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/Caitlin Richard - Psyche Inspired

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