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Barbara McFadyen
Barbara McFadyen Jewelry
"My inspirations are nourished by the beauty, mystery, and sense of awe I find in the natural world. My passion for nature’s details is a constant theme throughout my work as I explore the balance of form and function, counter to the interplay of materials with carefully selected combinations of pattern, texture, and color. I strive to capture reflections of nature, memories, and refined moments of tranquility in wearable designs with a sense of timeless elegance, to create today’s treasures that may become tomorrow’s heirlooms."
Creating wearable forms in precious metals, gemstones, and vitreous enamel has been Barbara McFadyen’s lifelong passion. Much of her work focuses on humankind's relationship with nature, a subject she explores throughout her jewelry. Her vision of nature is filtered and transformed by her awareness of diverse cultural traditions. She has a particular affinity to the art of Japan and its profound aesthetic of shibusa which embodies an inimitable, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty expressing a deep connection to the flux of nature. With a keen eye for detail and a love for vibrant colors, she creates works that are both beautiful and meaningful. Her unique style blends elements of realism and impressionism, resulting in pieces that are both grounded in reality and dreamlike in their beauty. Barbara's art is a celebration of the natural world and a testament to her deep connection to the environment.
Barbara McFadyen is an accomplished jewelry artist known for her intricate and unique designs that blend traditional techniques with a contemporary edge. Using precious metals, enamel, and gemstones, she creates heirloom-quality pieces that are not only beautiful but also tell a story, inspired by the customs and symbolic language of jewelry. Excited by the challenge of exploring and combining many techniques and materials, Barbara creates her precious metal collections with age-old metal traditions featuring the ancient Korean art of Keum boo, a delicate process of fusing 24k gold on fine silver. Her extensive knowledge of vitreous enameling is revealed through her beautiful and intricate layered works in colored glass, created with the time-honored traditions of Basse-taille and Limoges enamel. Her work is a testament to her mastery of the art form and her dedication to quality and craftsmanship, creating truly one-of-a-kind pieces or limited editions.
Barbara McFadyen is a metalsmith and enamelist designing jewelry in gold, silver, and enamel for five decades. Barbara received her BA in Visual Arts from Eckerd College in 1974 and was awarded her MFA in Metal Design from East Carolina University in 2017. Barbara discovered enameling at Kulicke Starke Academy in NYC in 1977 and has continued her in-depth studies with master enamelists such as Bill Helwig, Martha Banyas, Jamie Bennett, Linda Darty, and Mi-Sook Hur, Jan Harrel and more. A summer immersion in Japan with Parson’s school of Design in 1981, had a profound and lasting impact on Barbara. Her work is in the collection of the Arkansas Museum of Art, the Crocker Museum, the Mint Museum, the Metal Museum, and Yale University Art Gallery. She has become nationally recognized through competitive juried exhibitions including Society of National Goldsmiths and the Enamelist Society’s International Alchemy Exhibitions where she has twice been a prize winner.
Creating wearable forms in precious metals, gemstones, and vitreous enamel has been Barbara McFadyen’s lifelong passion. Much of her work focuses on humankind's relationship with nature, a subject she explores throughout her jewelry. Her vision of nature is filtered and transformed by her awareness of diverse cultural traditions. She has a particular affinity to the art of Japan and its profound aesthetic of shibusa which embodies an inimitable, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty expressing a deep connection to the flux of nature. With a keen eye for detail and a love for vibrant colors, she creates works that are both beautiful and meaningful. Her unique style blends elements of realism and impressionism, resulting in pieces that are both grounded in reality and dreamlike in their beauty. Barbara's art is a celebration of the natural world and a testament to her deep connection to the environment.
Barbara McFadyen is an accomplished jewelry artist known for her intricate and unique designs that blend traditional techniques with a contemporary edge. Using precious metals, enamel, and gemstones, she creates heirloom-quality pieces that are not only beautiful but also tell a story, inspired by the customs and symbolic language of jewelry. Excited by the challenge of exploring and combining many techniques and materials, Barbara creates her precious metal collections with age-old metal traditions featuring the ancient Korean art of Keum boo, a delicate process of fusing 24k gold on fine silver. Her extensive knowledge of vitreous enameling is revealed through her beautiful and intricate layered works in colored glass, created with the time-honored traditions of Basse-taille and Limoges enamel. Her work is a testament to her mastery of the art form and her dedication to quality and craftsmanship, creating truly one-of-a-kind pieces or limited editions.
Barbara McFadyen is a metalsmith and enamelist designing jewelry in gold, silver, and enamel for five decades. Barbara received her BA in Visual Arts from Eckerd College in 1974 and was awarded her MFA in Metal Design from East Carolina University in 2017. Barbara discovered enameling at Kulicke Starke Academy in NYC in 1977 and has continued her in-depth studies with master enamelists such as Bill Helwig, Martha Banyas, Jamie Bennett, Linda Darty, and Mi-Sook Hur, Jan Harrel and more. A summer immersion in Japan with Parson’s school of Design in 1981, had a profound and lasting impact on Barbara. Her work is in the collection of the Arkansas Museum of Art, the Crocker Museum, the Mint Museum, the Metal Museum, and Yale University Art Gallery. She has become nationally recognized through competitive juried exhibitions including Society of National Goldsmiths and the Enamelist Society’s International Alchemy Exhibitions where she has twice been a prize winner.
