Suz Andreasen

Suz Andreasen (born March 24, 1964) is an American jewelry designer.

She was born in Iowa, the fourth generation in a family of inventors and scientists. Andreasen began her interest in metalsmithing alongside her father George Andreasen, [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE2D7153EF936A2575BC0A96F948260 George Andreasen, 55, Orthodontics Inventor - New York Times ] ] the inventor of memory wire.

Educated at New York University between 1981 and 1984, she went on to apprentice from 1986 to 1991 by studying Verdura's renderings. Her work has been featured in many books on jewelry design, and her vast collection is referenced in dozens of published titles.

She is known for craftsmanship and jewelry design in 22 carat gold, her brand "Women Want Jewelry", which she launched in 1999, and her use of rare gemstones, before launching her own signature line "Suz Andreasen American Couture Jewelry" in New York. She has received many award, sited for her work including the Society of North American Goldsmith's "Golden Opportunity", exhibition along with Ethical Metalsmiths [ [http://www.ethicalmetalsmiths.org/GO/Andreasen.html Golden Opportunity Gallery ] ] and the American Craft Council's prestigious Mentor Program award. She is a member of the American Craft Council, founded in 1943 by Aileen Osborn Webb.

Her work is expressionist in both form and content, influenced by the work of the late Dorrie Nossiter an English designer from the Arts and Crafts movement. Andreasen constructs her work 22 carat gold using traditional milling and fabricating techniques. She uses patterning and alloy stains to contrast gold with gemstones and often features textural elements and ancient goldsmithing techniques. Andreasen often uses natural as well as tribal forms as her inspiration. Her work can be found in Saks Fifth Avenue, in New York City. During 2007, her work has been featured in "National Jeweler Magazine", "Art Jewelry Magazine", "Jewellery International", "Vioro", "Rappaport Diamond Report", "Inside Weddings", "Colored Stone Magazine" and "American Style Magazine".

Andreasen is the founder, along with other notable experts, of The Couture Awards. She founded the awards to explore new frontiers in jewelry design, believing there was a demand for an award based on artistic merit alone. The award was held on December 7th 2007 and featured 44 jewelry designers from 20 states throughout the U.S. A book was published from this exhibition entitled American Couture Jewelry.

Andreasen has won many awards including the Craft Council Mentor Award, the Spectrum Award Finalist in 2007 and 2008 and on April 29, 2007, Andreasen was awarded first place in the American Bench Jewelers Passion Awards [ [http://www.bwsimon.com/DesignContest/Winners2007.pdf bwsimon.com winners' list] ] for her "Tigerlilly" necklace. In 2007, Andreasen exhibited at Couture 2007 at the Wynn Las Vegas and at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

She is a member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths, SNAG, the World Gold Council, the American Gemological Trade Association, the Contemporary Design Group and the Jewelers of America.

References

External links

* [http://www.suzandreasen.com Suz Andreasen official website]
* [http://www.womenwantjewelry.com Women Want Jewelry]

Bibliography

* "Dreaming The Future" (2001)
* "American Couture Jewelry" (2007)