Speaking in Color: An Enamelist’s Journey at NYC Jewelry Week 2025

Amy Roper Lyons combines enamel processes like cloisonné, plique-à-jour, and basse-taille with a broad palette of goldsmithing techniques including forming, carving, chasing, and fabricating. Amy will share her passion for creating these one-of-a-kind pieces and where her inspiration comes from.

Patricia Nelson taught all aspects of metals and foundation design for three decades at Ball State University. She has exhibited metal work and enamel work throughout the US for over three decades.

Amy Roper Lyons is a studio goldsmith and master enamelist. Her work expresses her love for the wonderful variety of form and color found in the natural world. Inspired by her garden, and long walks along the seashore near her home, she creates one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces in high-karat gold, enamels, and gemstones. She combines enamel processes like cloisonné, plique-à-jour, and basse-taille with a broad palette of goldsmithing techniques including forming, carving, chasing, and fabricating. Amy will share her passion for creating these one-of-a-kind pieces and where her inspiration comes from.

She teaches jewelry and enameling workshops at craft schools and conferences across the US. She received her BFA from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. She is also Executive Vice President of Enamel Guild North East.

Patricia Nelson’s education in metalsmithing and enameling began in Seattle at the University of Washington and continued at the State University of New York at New Paltz where she received her MFA. She began her teaching career at Indiana’s Ball State University, and throughout her three decades at Ball State, she taught all aspects of metals and foundation design. She has exhibited metal work and enamel work throughout the US for over three decades. She was the recipient of many awards and grants throughout her teaching career.

After her retirement from Ball State in 2016, she became president of The Enamelist Society, an international group of artists who use vitreous enamel (glass fired on metal) as an art form. She continues to produce work and teach classes in person and online.

Each November, NYC Jewelry Week proudly presents ‘The Week,’ a 7-day celebration dedicated to the art of jewelry. This annual festival invites a global audience to explore the world of jewelry through a dynamic mix of in-person and virtual experiences, spanning New York City and beyond. Our hybrid program features virtual programs streamed on YouTube alongside immersive on-site activities.

In-person, NYC Jewelry Week brings together leading figures in the jewelry industry to curate extraordinary experiences, including exhibitions, exclusive shopping opportunities, and retail collaborations. Attendees can also participate in insightful panel discussions that explore trends, challenges, and innovations in the field. Each event creates memorable jewelry moments that celebrate the creativity and craftsmanship of the industry.

Committed to inclusivity, many of our programs are free and open to the public. NYC Jewelry Week seeks to reshape how people view jewelry by inviting everyone to appreciate the artistry behind the scenes. Join us in celebrating the transformative power of jewelry and experience the beauty and innovation that define our community.

We look forward to welcoming you to NYCJW25!

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