Biography: C. Jill Hofer

C. Jill Hofer aka Renge Kyo is a philanthropic jewelry designer and artist based in Tucson, Arizona. An inspired artist guided by the desire to share the culture of Burning Man through jewelry, she brings a wealth of creative experience to the Playa, with a background in sewing, stained glass, painting, pottery, welding, plasma-cut art, and silversmithing.

Her passion deepened through sculpting precious metal silver clay, leading her to the lost wax casting process. This evolution gave rise to A Nice World, her cause-driven jewelry brand that donates 33–100% of every purchase to aligned nonprofits. Her designs are wearable reminders of generosity, transformation, and interconnection—uplifting both the wearer and the world.

Jill’s Playa-making journey began in 2013, when she created her Shield Ring and simple Burning Man pendants from silver clay. On a solo walk through Center Camp, this large-scale ring was spotted from afar by Lady Bee, herself. Ushered by this iconic, incredible Burner, Jill entered the heart of the Playa Jeweler’s Guild. That fateful encounter sparked a creative chain reaction.

In 2014, Jill gifted The Eye of Playa Ra, based on fellow Burner Geoffrey Squire Silver’s wish for a symbolic pendant carrying this, his favorite theme. Sculpted in wax and cast in many bronze tones, it has since been gifted annually, both on and off Playa.

2015 brought I Am The 10P, a rectangular pendant cut with a peek-a-boo Man shape and engraved with acronyms for the 10 Principles to infuse and uplift these key messages to each wearer of the piece. It was cast in bronze tones and sterling silver.

By 2016, her camp-specific designs included collaborations with fellow dusty creatives, using 3D printing and laser-cut models. This expanded her artistic repertoire, with hand-sculpted pieces enduring as her ultimate creative Playa jewelry passion.

During a 9-year hiatus from That Thing In The Desert (TTITD), Jill continued to sculpt, cast and gift, including more camp-related custom pieces as well as a hand-sculpted design created in 2017 to be gifted by a Burner bestie.

Returning in 2025 for Burn #5 at age 55, Jill created Swarm of Appreciation: a tiny bronze bee bearing the image of the Man. This design is a special tribute to Ladybee, an homage created in appreciation to the inspiration – and now friend – who made it all possible. A special 14K vermeil version was gifted to Lady Bee in tribute to her decades of contribution to Burning Man’s creative spirit.

On-Playa pursuits include: Conclave Sentinel and Performer, Silicon Village Traveling Maenad, Mirrora (Guide of Law of Attraction), Compliment Booth Professional, Sock Puppet Theater Leader, Dome Builder, Art Forest Collaborator, BRC Boutique Volunteer, HeeBee GeeBees Ad-Hoc Healer, 10 Principles Camp Maven, and Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Camp Chanter.

Both on and off Playa, she strives to live a life and create symbolic, meaningful jewelry which embodies the spirit of Gifting, Decommodification, Participation, and Immediacy—with appreciation at the heart of it all.