Tending Time: Artist Talk at NYC Jewelry Week 2025

United by a shared commitment to process, transformation, and stewardship, Carol Blumthal and Rachel Susanne Smith explore the relationship between nature-driven and human-constructed worlds. Their work blurs boundaries between adornment, environment, and ritual. Jewelry becomes vessel, memory, and connection: rooted in craft, storytelling, and collaboration. An artist talk will be held Friday at 10am.

Carol Blumthal is a Memphis-based Private Jeweler and artist known for sculptural, story-rich pieces that fuse fine art with rebellious elegance. Her work explores permanence and reinvention, drawing from geology, fashion, and personal narratives. Her collections have been featured in British Vogue, shown at Milan Jewelry Week, and highlighted in exhibitions at the Metal Museum and Brooks Museum of Art . In 2024, she debuted Pure Form, a wearable art collection inspired by her father’s legacy in geology, blending crystal structures with organic forms in precious metals.

Rachel Suzanne Smith, based in Northeast Ohio, is a metalsmith, educator, and digital fabrication specialist. She creates wearable sculpture and limited production art jewelry while teaching as Professor of Practice at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Her work explores identity, memory, and belonging through the visual and narrative language of opulence and adornment constructed from the forms of native and pollinator-supporting plants and wildflowers.

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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