Patricia Madeja

"I enjoy the challenge of working with pure, unornamented form that incorporates the aesthetic values of symmetry, balance, and proportion."

Modern, clean, and minimalist, Patricia Madeja's designs are simultaneously simple and complex. She derives inspiration from geometric forms and architectural structures, with movement as an integral component of each piece. Elegant yet playful, her jewelry is artistic and innovative while remaining comfortable and practical to wear.

Creating pieces that incorporate movement through multiple units and intricate linking systems, Madeja draws sketches and then constructs models from sheet metal and wire—what she affectionately calls her "small abstract sculptures." While some designs are carefully planned and evolve through time, others erupt spontaneously from the artist's mind to take on their unique and intricate shape.

Madeja received a BFA in 1985 from Pratt Institute in New York and established her studio in 1989 on Long Island. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including an MJSA Vision Award, Saul Bell Award, and Niche Award, and her work has been featured in a variety of periodicals and books. A strong advocate for jewelry education, she has been teaching in the fine arts department of Pratt Institute since 1998.