Jewelry design is art and science.
Jewelry making encompasses all five elements of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). Several iconic artists, including Picasso, have had successful forays into jewelry creation and design (see https://www.invaluable.com/blog/6-visual-artists-who-dabbled-in-jewelry-making). The artist selects from various mediums to create stimulating works that are pleasing to the eye, in many cases adding value to the raw materials used in the piece.
HAVarts board member, Ms. Biljana Stewart, is very accomplished and highly skilled in all of the STEAM disciplines, which lead her to jewelry design.
At an early age, Ms. Stewart expressed interest in creating visual arts. She has portfolios full of drawings she created beginning in elementary school. Although she excelled in the disciplines of math and sketching, she was encouraged to pursue engineering. She earned a BSME from University of Michigan, and a Masters in Engineering Management which facilitated a “glass-ceiling-breaking” career in engineering and management at two Fortune 500 companies.
In 2007, Biba pivoted from her corporate career to focus on her creative talents. She founded Biba Design LLC by creating a line of jewelry inspired by timeless classics. Today her company markets several collections of high-quality designer jewelry to a growing number of fine jewelry retailers.
Biba designs original pieces created from classic materials; silver is paired with pearls and/or an endless variety of semi-precious gemstones. Her jewelry is meticulously crafted using classic pearl stringing techniques which provide a fluid esthetic.
Biljana accepts custom commissions when possible and enjoys the one-on-one creative process with her clients. She also offers a range of customized jewelry workshops for individuals who want to learn the techniques of jewelry design.
For more photos and information, please visit Biba’s Facebook page, or email biljana.stewart@gmail.com.