Adorn Artist Biographies 2025
ADORN
A Jewelry Invitational
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Click on artist's name to browse jewelry or explore the entire collection here.
Linda Azar is a studio jeweler living in the mountains of Western North Carolina. She grew up in Saint Petersburg, Florida, and received a BA in Architecture from the University of Florida. After moving to Asheville, NC, she studied metalsmithing and jewelry at Haywood Community College in Clyde, NC, and has been a full-time jewelry artist since 2013. Her jewelry compositions incorporate organic and architectural elements using sterling silver, semi-precious stones, steel, and brass. Her pieces are created using lost wax casting, traditional metal fabrication techniques, and powder coating. Linda is a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and has exhibited at numerous fine craft shows nationwide.
Barbara Bayne is based in Havre de Grace, Maryland and has been creating fine jewelry for more than 35 years. Her work reflects her interest in the natural forms and textures that surround her. She seeks to capture some of that nature when she creates her unique jewelry.
The majority of my jewelry is fabricated from 18K gold or sterling silver sheets using a process called die forming. This process involves pushing the metal into either wooden or steel dies using a variety of methods that include dapping and hydraulic pressing. The dies are pieces of wood or steel with specific shapes cut out of the center of them. The outline of the piece is dictated by the shape of the die, but the depth can vary since the metal is actually formed over air. Additional techniques are employed both before and after forming to embellish the design. These techniques include various methods of texturing and piercing of the metal.
Bonnie Bishoff and J.M. Syron have been collaborative artists for 39 years. They started as furniture makers, exploring the use of polymer as a decorative surface using millefiori techniques to create highly detailed veneers. Over time they have shifted to making sculptural wall pieces and jewelry. They have exhibited in a wide range of venues from galleries - national and abroad - to fine craft shows with the Smithsonian Museum, American Crafts Council, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Museum exhibitions have included the Peabody Essex, The Museum of Art and Design in New York, with work in the permanent collection of the Racine Art Museum.
Peg Fetter moved to St. Louis to attend Washington University to study metalsmithing with Heikki Seppa. She received her MFA from Washington University and her BFA from Winthrop University in Rock Hill S.C. Because of her love of the medium, she teaches metalsmithing at several institutions as well. Fetter’s work combines the rawness of steel with the elegance of gold; the juxtaposition of the two elements creates the perfect foil. The jewelry looks delicate but is very strong because of the industrial materials.
Gabrielle Gould is a St. Augustine-based jeweler whose work is inspired by coastal Florida. She frequently incorporates elements such as feathers and shells in her designs that are set against a silver or high-karat gold framework. Gabrielle is the recipient of many honors including the Southern Arts Federation/National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship and the American Craft Council Award of Excellence. Her work has been featured in prominent museums and galleries across the country and was featured on the Peabody award-winning series Craft In America, now available for streaming on PBS. (watch HERE)
Russell Jones is based in Hudson, NY where he creates fresh and modern designs with a subtle nod to historical styles of jewelry. He prefers a spare approach so that the pieces are not overly decorative, as he likes the construction to be visible. The settings are part of the overall design. Elements like the prongs, bezels, and rivets become as important as the stones or metals used. Hand-selected stones from India, Sri Lanka, and South America are combined in unexpected and delightful compositions of size, color, and scale. Jones's process and techniques are traditional in nature; he makes everything by hand. All settings are formed from wire, which the artist prefers to build from scratch, usually starting with round wire. Cast pieces are sculpted in wax to make a unique master. In addition, Jones works with talented lapidarists who help him realize special stones for his pieces.
Jones's work has graced many red-carpet events and his work is owned by Dame Helen Mirren, Alisha Keys, and Meryl Streep. His jewelry has been featured in The New York Times, W and Elle, and has also been included in the internationally acclaimed book, The New Jewelers: Desirable, Collectable, Contemporary by Olivier Dupon published in 2013 by Thames & Hudson.
Allison Kline received a BFA in Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design. In addition to her graphic design business, she pursues a range of creative endeavors in her New Smyrna Beach studio, with an emphasis on creating jewelry as wearable pieces of art. Her bold, colorful work typically involves using vitreous enamel on copper, handmade silver chains, and the occasional found object.
Jennifer Letter is a silversmith who uses traditional techniques to create modern pieces in sterling silver. She first discovered this passion in San Francisco, where she learned the craft and served as a studio assistant at the Sharon Arts Studio. Her recent move to Colorado is proving to be a fertile environment for creativity, teenager-wrangling, and making shiny things.
Wendy Thurlow earned her BFA in metalsmithing from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and has produced one-of-a-kind and limited-edition jewelry for over 18 years. Her award-winning creations have been exhibited and published widely, and she has private collectors worldwide. Thurlow's pieces incorporate centuries-old techniques with mixed metals, surface embellishments, and high-quality stones to produce jewelry that is both organic and sculptural. Her collection is award-winning and has been praised for its individuality. Wendy's eye for composition and attention to form and detail enables her to create a distinct jewelry style.
Jeff & Susan Wise have been making jewelry together as a team for 35 years from their studio in Durango, Colorado. Working in high karat gold and precious stones, they create dynamic, one-of-a-kind sculptural jewelry that is also light and comfortable to wear. Their bold and elegant forms finely balance organic shapes, architectural elements, and geometry. Their award-winning work is exhibited nationally and can also be found in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institute National Museum of American Art, Washington DC, Boston Museum of Fine Art, and the New York Museum of Art and Design, among others.