Donna D’Aquino

Statement
Biography
More

My ongoing body of work connects my interest in drawing and jewelry using wire as I would use charcoal. The work consists of a series of wearable pieces that reflect an exploration of line, form, volume, movement, structure, geometry, space, light and shadow.

Two of the primary influences for this body of work were The Modern or New Jewelry Movement, which began in Europe in 1970, and the Constructivist Movement, which took place during the early part of the 20th century, primarily in Russia. The influence of these two movements, coupled with my interest in architectural structures, form the basis for this body of work.

For me it is important that the work exist both on and of the body. When not being worn the pieces are to be displayed as a three-dimensional drawing either on the wall or in some other appropriate space, where they can be enjoyed and not locked away in a jewelry box.

The work is hand-fabricated using steel, sterling, and sometimes 18K gold wire. To add a bit of color, I use Plasti-Dip or powder coating.
Donna D’Aquino was born in Newburgh, New York. She received her BS in Design from The State University College of New York at Buffalo in 1989; and her MFA from Kent State University in 2000. She taught at three schools in Ohio: Kent State University, The Mary Schiller Myers School of Art at the University of Akron, and The University of Toledo.

In the fall of 2003, Donna decided to stop teaching and focus on being a studio metalsmith. She works in a variety of metals, materials and styles. Her jewelry is hand-fabricated using sterling silver, 18K gold and steel, and is primarily inspired by drawing and architecture.

She resides in Bethel, Maine, where she maintains a full-time studio.
Donna’s work can be seen in over 25 books and magazines and at many of the finest contemporary craft shows and galleries throughout the country. She has won numerous awards including an individual Ohio Arts Council Grant and an Emerging Artist Fellowship from the American Craft Council.

In 2007 she was selected to be included in both the traveling show and the book that accompanied the “Craft in America, Celebrating Two Centuries of Artists and Objects”, series done for PBS. Her work was recently donated to the permanent collection of The Charles A. Wustum Museum in Racine, Wisconsin. She also has work in the permanent collection of the Museum for Contemporary Crafts in Portland, Oregon.

Her art jewelry has recently been featured in Vogue Italia and W magazine.