Interview with the Jewelry Artist Lucía Laredo

Today we are really happy to introduce Lucía Laredo, jewelry artist based in Lima, Peru. 
This is an article on the fascinating art creation process of Lucía. 
Let's dive in the creative atmosphere of her studio. 
Here we go, read the full interview below.

(CRAFTWOMEN Studio)How did you start everything? What is your art background?

(Lucía Laredo) In 2006 I graduated  the Jewelry and Metalsmith Institute SENATI, the first school in Peru to teach Jewelry as a technical discipline. Before the school was open jewelry in Peru was a job learned only by practice or taught from one generation to the next. I develop my skills working at Ester Ventura workshop, a famous jewelry designer in Peru. And working at Lima Museum of Art improves my knowledge of art, art conservation and restoration. I also studied Artistic Jewelry at the School of Fine Arts and Graphic Design. I have constantly taken courses related to jewelry or related topics. 

CW Is there such kind of material that makes you to express yourself the best while creating pieces of jewelry? 

LL Metal is my favorite material to work, because it has various properties, many different manufacture processes and surface treatments.

CW Do you fancy listening to music while creating? What tunes are you up to?

LL Yes, music keeps me company while I am working. however it has to be in low volume otherwise I get distracted. I like almost every kind of music.

CW Could you tell us something about the source of your inspiration in both work and life?

LL Daily life, what I see, what I hear, what I read...whatever that generates something on me. Today I could work with some material, tomorrow I could develop a theme...this makes the contemporary jewelry a diverse and endless world. That's why I enjoy jewelry a lot. It gives to me freedom to create what I want...

CW Do you think the city you live in has to do with shaping your artistic sense and taste?

LL Definitely yes. Lima is the center of Peru, where different cultural expressions and different customs converge and interact. Sometimes this city can be friendly and sometimes it can be aggressive.

CW  Could you name some of your favourite jewelry designers and artists in general?

LL I admire the skill of the metalsmith pre-Columbian and Jack Cunningham, Karl Fritsch, Tessa Rickard. I love their work because they really seem to enjoy making jewelry.
In Art, in general, the surrealism and the installations are my favorites.

CW Could  you tell us more about contemporary craft communities in Lima?

LL Contemporary craft in Lima has a few exhibition spaces and these are, most of the time, exclusive. I would love it if more places existed in Peru where jewelry designers could show and spread our work and get the recognition that it deserves.

Thank you, Lucía! 

Find and shop online jewelry by Lucía Laredo at the following links: lucialaredo.etsy.com and lucialaredo.dawanda.com plus follow her at Facebook and Instagram

Hope you guys to be inspired by this meeting with Lucía and her creative space.
If you need some more inspiration or gift ideas learn the details around the story of Giardinoblu organic jewelry.

Handmade Dreams Exhibition + SoBazaar in the Heart of Sofia

  Winter is already here and the biggest proof is the first snow outside. Just two days ago Sofia was covered all around with snow. You can sense the festive spirit and the upcoming winter holidays everywhere - in the nicely decorated shops, cafes, local bakeries and bookstore. 

  What we really liked and we attended these snowy days is an exhibition that takes place in the Czech Institute called Handmade Dreams - Contemporary Czech Jewelry. The closing of the exhibition is on 2nd December and we strongly recommend to have a closer look at the pieces of jewelry exposed at one of the halls of the institute. 

 The project itself is curated by Petra Nového from the Museum of glass and Jewellery in Jablonec. 
In the exhibition are also featured students' works as well as works crafted and finished during the contest Master of Crystal.

 Apart from the glass, Czech jewelry is an established traditional brand of relatively small country in Europe and definitely it is worthy to get closer to examine its gorgeous collections and artifacts. 

  One more event grabbed our attention and more precisely this is the Christmas Edition of SoBazaar is going to take place on 3rd and 4th December at the space of SOHO. Plus we cannot hide we are in love with their beautiful poster for the event. Meet all the artists and participants in advance at the Facebook event here and of course in person right at the spot you can have the opportunity to have a chat with them and will get to know more about the creative process, the materials or to choose something special for yourself. 

And the rest you know just take your time and pick up the best gifts for the loved ones.