Amy Roper Lyons grew up in New Jersey in a family of artists. She discovered her passion for working with metal as a child, taking jewelry classes at a local art center. Amy went on to study metalsmithing and jewelry design at the Philadelphia College of Art where she earned a BFA. Ten years after founding her jewelry studio Amy discovered enamel and began incorporating it into her designs. It was at this point that she achieved her signature style. “My work is motivated by my dual fascination with metal and glass, and the way they combine to create something altogether new.”
Today, Amy creates bold compositions of gold and enamel, each unique piece made by hand in her studio. Combining enamel processes like cloisonné and basse-taille with a broad palette of goldsmithing techniques, her jewelry seeks to make a very personal statement while also honoring the powerful meaning these works have for the person who owns and wears them. She often draws inspiration from the natural world: landscape, animals and plants. A recent series of was sparked by photos of space taken by the Hubble Telescope.
Amy is also known for her larger work: plique a jour bowls and cups made of sterling and enamel which synthesize traditional processes with digital technologies to create unique and contemporary works of art.
Her award-winning work has been published in books and magazines such as 500 Enameled Objects, The Art of Fine Enameling, CAST: Art and Objects, Digital Handmade, SNAG’s Jewelry and Metals Survey 2018, “Jewelry Artist“, “Ornament“, and “Metalsmith”. Lyons’ work has been exhibited widely at museums, galleries and craft shows such as the Philadelphia Museum Craft Show, the Smithsonian Craft Show, and the American Craft Council shows.
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