D
esigner Suzy Landa’s upbringing was filled with color and creativity. Her home was bursting at the seams with all the makings of spectacular arts and crafts, and Suzy’s mom demonstrated a relentless pursuit for uncovering beauty in anything, encouraging her kids to express themselves freely and without reserve. Suzy was also charmed by the magic and mystery of her grandfather’s hardware store, watching with rapture as he would turn nails, screws and scrap metal into wonders and curiosities. Here, too, she was emboldened to play, turning bits and pieces into sculptures, mobiles and wearable art.
After taking metalsmithing and model making classes, Suzy quickly discovered that jewelry design allowed her the opportunity to express a full breadth of her creativity and life experiences that formed her world view.
Image courtesy of Suzy Landa
While her parent’s approach to fostering their children’s imaginations may have been unconventional, their belief in the power of the pragmatic was well engrained. Suzy was raised to believe that art was a pleasure for pastime, and that she needed to get a real job to succeed in this world.
Image courtesy of Suzy Landa
Excelling in the course that had been set for her, Suzy prospered, attending U.C. Berkeley where she studied Political Science and later took a job in the movie business. While she enjoyed being a part of the creative process, she felt torn by the relationship of art and commerce, and even after a dozen years, her position did not serve her need for an authentic creative outlet.
Image courtesy of Suzy Landa
After taking metalsmithing and model making classes, Suzy quickly discovered that jewelry design allowed her the opportunity to express a full breadth of her creativity and life experiences that formed her world view. The tactile nature of the fabrication process appealed to her deep-seeded love for constructing things, and her passion for colored gemstones is both a reflection of the happiest moments of her childhood, and a celebration of the metaphysical properties that help her feel grounded to the earth.
Image courtesy of Suzy Landa
The reverence Suzy, a self-described “colored stone junkie,” holds for colored gemstones ensures that she selects only the finest specimens for inclusion in her work. In many of her pieces, the gemstones lead the charge, their shape and the nuances of their spectrum informing the direction of their design.
Image courtesy of Suzy Landa
The dichotomies and harmonies of Suzy’s path towards jewelry design are further evident in her ability to develop stories through her collections, her career in the movie business creating a framework for shaping a cohesive narrative through her designs.
Image courtesy of Suzy Landa
Her chic, minimalist silhouettes and bold colors are resonant of the 1960’s and ‘70’s fashion of her youth, and showcase an effortless, “throw it on and go” elegance that is both playful and sophisticated. Her work strikes a beautiful balance between classic and current, sweet and formidable. Suzy continues to evolve her designs with her collectors in mind, knowing her clients want to be as in love with their jewelry in 10 years as when they first laid eyes on it.
Image courtesy of Suzy Landa
Image courtesy of Suzy Landa
Image courtesy of Suzy Landa
Image courtesy of Suzy Landa
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