A Life in Color: The Whimsical World of Laurel Burch

Some artists are trained in studios. Laurel Burch taught herself everything, against odds that would have stopped most people.

Born in 1945, Burch lived with a rare bone disease that made her bones extraordinarily fragile; she would break them throughout her life. She left a difficult home as a teenager and began making jewelry from scraps and found materials, selling her pieces on the streets of San Francisco. She had no formal art education and no safety net. What she had was an irrepressible imagination and a love of color that simply could not be dimmed.

That imagination became a global phenomenon. Her fantastical cats, devoted dogs, spirited horses, and blossoming florals are instantly recognizable — all bold outlines, jewel tones, and a sense of pure, infectious joy. Burch once described her creatures as coming from somewhere deep inside her, and you can feel it. Her work doesn't just depict animals; it celebrates them.

Burch passed away in 2007, but her designs remain as beloved as ever, and it's easy to see why. In a world that can feel gray and serious, her art is an act of optimism. It makes people smile.

We're proud to feature her work across some of our most giftable pieces. The Dogs and Doggies and Blossoming Floral designs bring her signature warmth to the round zipper case — the perfect little pouch for coins, earbuds, or lip balm — while her vivid animals turn a crossbody bag into a genuine conversation piece.

For the dog lover, the cat person, or anyone who could use a little more color in their day, a Laurel Burch piece is more than an accessory. It's a small daily reminder that joy is worth making room for — something Burch proved with her whole remarkable life.

Explore the Laurel Burch collection and find a little joy to carry.