True Ease in Writing comes from Art, not Chance, As those move easiest who have learned to dance. - Alexander Pope

Bead

Nov 12, 2010

Sonja Zytkow

As soon as I laid eyes on one of her necklaces, it immediately caught my attention. Sonja Zytkow has perfected the art of making beautiful African jewelry. She warmed my heart even further by incorporating a lot of orange (my favorite color) into many of her necklaces. Here's what I found out about her

-She was originally a ceramic sculptor who owned a factory in Johannesburg

-Sonja studied fine arts, film-making and sculpture in the UK before obtaining her master's degree in ceramics at Berkeley in California

-During the early 1990's, Sonja visited a gallery in South Africa. Without a jewellery background, she settled into a remarkable bead collection and began to create small, one-off art works. The encounter proved to be the beginning of what later became a calling.

Oct 07, 2010

Moulaye Niang

Lately, I've taken a great interest in the African art scene. There is enormous talent in Senegal. I keep smiling as I make new discoveries. I can give you a million and one reasons why the Mona Lisa bores me but that's another post. I'm here to support my people and my continent. African art speaks to me more than anything.
 
I came across Moulaye Niang today. A very talented jewelry designer and painter who makes his own glass beads. Just breathtaking.
 
-He was born in Senegal and studied glassmaking at the Abate Zanetti Glass School in Murano,Venice (Italy).
 
"My project is called Muranero, which is a mix between Murano and 'nero', that means 'black' in Italian.