Loretta Lam

"My jewelry is inspired by nature's bounty: berries bursting on the vine, pods and cones, acorns and mushrooms. From this starting point, I create large, luscious pieces in gorgeous colors, blending playfulness with femininity and classic beauty with modern scale."

As a child, Loretta Lam would play with her mother's vintage button box, making extravagant necklaces for dress-up games. As she grew up, Lam 's love of jewelry design never left her, and it all came together years later when she found polymer clay. With its limitless possibilities for bead shape and color, it allowed Lam to realize her artistic dreams.

Lam works directly from a strong color inspiration which informs the millefiori patterns that become the surface design. She forms sculptural base shapes one at a time, then veneers them with thin sheets of the patterned clay. She takes great care in the design and craftsmanship of each element and finished piece of jewelry.

Lam is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz's renowned BFA metalsmithing program, where she focused on enamels and painting. In 1999, Lam started experimenting with polymer clay and found the direct access to color she'd always dreamed of. It has turned into a love affair which is always fresh and new.