Judith Neugebauer

"A 'previous life' in classical ballet and theater instilled within me a deep awareness of and appreciation for movement, line, and balance. These are the classical qualities I have always tried to incorporate into my jewelry designs—and in my life."

Judith Neugebauer has been a studio jeweler since 1974. Prior to this, she was trained in classical ballet, having studied and performed extensively in New York City and New Jersey. The many years she spent as a dancer have given her an awareness of form, line, and movement. These influences have inspired her as an artist and have been transferred into her work as a jeweler. Additionally, her explorations with clay in the early 1980s introduced her to an Asian aesthetic, which may be seen in the calligraphic use of gold leaf in her jewelry designs.

Neugebauer's distinctive use of 23k gold leaf and sterling silver has been her hallmark for 30 years. Her jewelry is made of die-formed, brushed sterling silver with an overlay of 23K gold leaf applied in sweeping, calligraphic strokes. Many pieces are enhanced with freshwater pearls and Australian boulder opals set in 22K gold. She also makes extensive use of oxidized, sandblasted sterling silver to create a rich, charcoal-black patina that contrasts even more dramatically with 23K gold lines.

Judith was educated at Farleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey, and she studied jewelry at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. She also studied both jewelry and ceramics at Peters Valley School of Craft and the Visual Art Center of New Jersey. She lives and works with her husband, Tom Neugebauer (a nationally known ceramics artist and sculptor), in Milford, Pennsylvania.