Suz Andreasen
Encyclopedia
Suz Andreasen is an American Artist known for her writings, musical compositions and vocals, and museum collection jewelry designs.
, the fourth generation in a family of inventors and scientists. Andreasen began her interest in the arts at a young age. Her first published work was in the American JAMA, The American Medical Journal at the age of 10. She then began her interest in metalsmithing
alongside her late father George Andreasen
, the inventor of memory wire who died when Suz Andreasen was only 24.
She has studied music all her life playing many instruments including the piano, the trumpet and the guitar. Her vocal studies began at 12 and continue to this day. She is an avid composer and song writer.
Andreasen moved to New York at the age of 18. Educated at New York University
between 1981 and 1984, she went on to apprentice
from 1986 to 1991 by studying the renderings of Fulco di Verdura
, an acclaimed Italian designer of the 1940s. Her work has been featured in many books on jewelry design, and her collection is referenced in dozens of published titles.
in 22 carat
gold
, her brand Women Want Jewelry, which she launched in 1999, and her use of rare gemstone
s, 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 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 7, 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 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. Her works can be seen in many museums throughout the world including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC and the Schmuck Museum in Pforxheim Germany.
Andreasen is currently working on a new book about American Politics and her family genealogy which dates back to some of the first American immigrant settlers who migrated from Scotland on the Ship Thistle in 1687, to be entitled "The Crossing"
Early life
She was born in IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, the fourth generation in a family of inventors and scientists. Andreasen began her interest in the arts at a young age. Her first published work was in the American JAMA, The American Medical Journal at the age of 10. She then began her interest in metalsmithing
Smith (metalwork)
A metalsmith, often shortened to smith, is a person involved in making metal objects. In contemporary use a metalsmith is a person who uses metal as a material, uses traditional metalsmithing techniques , whose work thematically relates to the practice or history of the practice, or who engages in...
alongside her late father George Andreasen
George Andreasen
George F. Andreasen was an American orthodontist and inventor.Adnreasen was born February 16, 1934 in Fremont, Nebraska....
, the inventor of memory wire who died when Suz Andreasen was only 24.
She has studied music all her life playing many instruments including the piano, the trumpet and the guitar. Her vocal studies began at 12 and continue to this day. She is an avid composer and song writer.
Andreasen moved to New York at the age of 18. Educated at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
between 1981 and 1984, she went on to apprentice
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
from 1986 to 1991 by studying the renderings of Fulco di Verdura
Fulco di Verdura
Fulco di Verdura , or Fulco Santo Stefano della Cerda, Duke of Verdura, and Marquis of Murata la Cerda, was an influential Italian jeweller...
, an acclaimed Italian designer of the 1940s. Her work has been featured in many books on jewelry design, and her collection is referenced in dozens of published titles.
Jewelry
She is known for craftsmanship and jewelry designJewelry design
Jewelry design is the art or profession of creating, crafting, fabricating, or rendering designs for jewelry. This is an ancient practice of the goldsmith or metalworker that evolved to a billion-dollar industry with the odyssey from ancient cultures into the machine age...
in 22 carat
Carat (purity)
The karat or carat is a unit of purity for gold alloys.- Measure :Karat purity is measured as 24 times the purity by mass:where...
gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
, her brand Women Want Jewelry, which she launched in 1999, and her use of rare gemstone
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
s, before launching her own signature line Suz Andreasen American Couture Jewelry in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. She has received many award, sited for her work including the Society of North American Goldsmith's "Golden Opportunity", exhibition along with Ethical Metalsmiths and the American Craft Council's prestigious Mentor Program award. She is a member of the American Craft Council
American Craft Council
The American Craft Council , was founded in 1943 as a national, nonprofit, educational organization to support and foster interest in the crafts in America. The council sponsers national craft shows, publishes American Craft magazine, and has an extensive awards program...
, founded in 1943 by Aileen Osborn Webb.
Her work is expressionist
Expressionism
Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas...
in both form and content, influenced by the work of the late Dorrie Nossiter
Dorrie Nossiter
Dorrie Nossiter was an English jewellery designer from Aston, near Birmingham.Nossiter crafted precious jewellery in the English Arts and Crafts Tradition in both sterling silver and gold...
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
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
, 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 7, 2007 and featured 44 jewelry designers from 20 states throughout the U.S. A book was published from this exhibition entitled American Couture Jewelry.
Awards
Before her career as a jewelry designer, Andreasen was well known as a backup singer for Elton John. Her first CD release, "Angels of Mercy" earned her a grammy nomination in 1993. She has also published two books, "Dreaming The Future," 1997 and "American Couture Jewelry," 2007.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 for her "Tigerlilly" necklace. In 2007, Andreasen exhibited at Couture 2007 at the Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas is a resort and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The US $2.7 billion resort is named after casino developer Steve Wynn and is the flagship property of Wynn Resorts Limited. The resort covers . It is located on Las Vegas Boulevard and Sands Avenue Wynn Las...
and at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
She is a member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths, SNAG, the World Gold Council
World Gold Council
The World Gold Council is a non-profit association of the world's leading gold mining companies, established in 1987 to promote the use of gold. It aims to stimulate demand for gold from industry, consumers, and investors. The Council's Chief Executive Officer is Aram Shishmanian, former head of...
, the American Gemological Trade Association, the Contemporary Design Group and the Jewelers of America. Her works can be seen in many museums throughout the world including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC and the Schmuck Museum in Pforxheim Germany.
Andreasen is currently working on a new book about American Politics and her family genealogy which dates back to some of the first American immigrant settlers who migrated from Scotland on the Ship Thistle in 1687, to be entitled "The Crossing"