The Story Behind the Artist
Born in Côte d'Ivoire and raised in France, my journey as an artist has been shaped by diverse cultures. Summers spent in Switzerland ignited my passion for crafting, as I carved wood, wove wool, and experimented with papier-mâché. This early love for creating evolved into a lifelong pursuit of translating visions and memories into tangible art.
Growing up, I was fascinated by the keepsake people brought back from their travels to Côte d'Ivoire—leather necklaces adorned with cowrie shells, wooden sculptures, and golden mask jewellery sets. I also remember the little gold fish pendants with multicoloured enamel and the gold nugget rings my mother brought back from her trips to Belgium to resell to the women in her monthly community meet ups. These were my earliest memories of falling in love with jewellery and art, moments I often revisit for inspiration.
Moving to the UK in my teens led me to explore a more traditional path, studying Politics and Sociology at university. But creativity found its way back to me—initially through music, then by chance through jewellery, when an encounter with a stunning pair of earrings from Kenya rekindled that passion. This led me to Hampstead School of Arts for my first jewellery course, and then to Central St
Martins, where I studied Jewellery Design, to Holts Academy to study jewellery manufacture, and more recently, gemstone carving with Charlotte de Syllas.
My work is all about storytelling—about digging deep into culture, identity, and the beauty of my Afropean heritage, and finding ways to bring those stories to life through my pieces. My first collection, inspired by masks, was all about mixing traditional motifs with a contemporary twist. Over time, I realised that being an artist isn't just about making jewellery; it's about sharing stories and finding new ways to create. Now, my practice has grown beyond jewellery alone. I’m exploring new dimensions by working on a larger scale—creating functional sculptures, decorative pieces, and just playing with materials like bronze and reclaimed objects. It’s a space for me to blend tradition and innovation, and honestly, it feels like every piece is a new adventure, a chance to celebrate my roots and make something truly meaningful.
I launched my brand, ROKUS, in 2013 to create timeless pieces with an elevated aesthetic influenced by both African and Western design sensibilities.
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ROKUS: Where Art Meets Life
Rokus isn’t just a jewellery brand; it’s where culture, design, and storytelling come together. My work blends African heritage with a minimalist, modern aesthetic. From jewellery to larger functional art pieces, everything I create is driven by a passion to translate cultural narratives into wearable art and sculptures.
Starting with jewellery, my pieces are inspired by traditional motifs but designed for contemporary life. Over time, my practice has expanded into functional and decorative sculptures that bring art into everyday spaces. Whether it's a necklace or a large-scale bronze piece, each work is deeply connected to my heritage, celebrating the beauty of both craftsmanship and innovation.
As I continue to evolve, Rokus now stands alongside my personal artistic practice as Marie-Paule Tano. My vision extends beyond jewellery, exploring themes of identity, ancestry, and spirituality through larger-scale functional art. Each piece tells a story rooted in the interplay of African tradition and Western influence, bridging the past with the present. I am inspired by my cultural heritage, gender dynamics, and sustainability, and I seek to create work that resonates both as art and as an expression of the human experience. Rokus and my individual works together reflect this growing vision, where tradition meets innovation, and art becomes a means of storytelling, preservation, and transformation.