Ellen Benson creates necklaces with beads and other components from cultures all over the world. During extensive stays in numerous countries on the African continent and as curator/co-curator of six ethnographic exhibits at the Bead Museum in Washington, D.C., Benson developed a keen interest in bead history with an emphasis on bead meaning and use.

Awareness of the cultural provenance of the beads and components guides the design process. Benson's goal is to achieve the best possible context for the elements, whether they represent the focal bead(s)/pendant or an ancillary color enhancement. Interesting patterns with fine detail, strong statements, color harmony, wearability and simple elegance are equally important attributes.

Ellen Benson is a retired high school/college teacher and textbook consultant in foreign languages. She holds M.A. degrees in English and Comparative Literature from the University of Maryland and the University of Colorado.