Kristi Hyde

jewelry

Atlanta artist, Kristi Hyde, is a self taught jewelry designer who has been creating one of a kind handmade jewelry since the year 2000. She was born and raised in north Alabama, has a BFA in illustration from the Savannah College of Art & Design (1998), a passion for drawing, painting, sculpture and gardening. In 2013, André Leon Talley, former American Editor-At-Large for Vogue Magazine personally selected one of Miss Hyde’s favorite statement necklaces from a gallery in Savannah, GA to exhibit with a Zac Posen gown in Paris, France for his curated show- Little Black Dress. Her work has been collected by women across the US, sold in small boutiques and galleries (mostly scattered around the southeast) and also sold by the artist herself at indoor and outdoor art fairs.

The design process for Hyde’s work begins by her mindfully choosing botanicals such as hydrangea flowers, orchid leaves, seed pods and bark to become the focal points of each finished work. She sculpts onto these natural forms with precious metal clays using a paintbrush and sculpting tools, and then sinters them in a kiln which is what alchemizes the clay body into metal. Each metal botanical is finished by polishing, setting stones and applying a special patina by hand, achieving dimensions of color that give them all a lifelike appearance. And finally, the last step is figuring out how she’ll incorporate her botanical sculptures into a necklace, bracelet, ring or earrings along with semi precious stones, pearls, leathers and chains.

"I am a southern independent artist and jewelry designer, born and raised near the river banks, pine forests and cotton fields of Decatur, AL. Atlanta was to be my “pit-stop” until I unexpectedly began making and selling jewelry in 2001. And now, over 10 years later, I am very fortunate to say that my artisan jewelry business continues to grow and thrive in this ever evolving southern city…

My pieces also integrate an array of gemstones and pearls, leather, silk and various precious metals. My designs have a romantic and bohemian spirit, are sculptural, fluid, beautifully uncommon, and one of a kind. My jewelry designs are inspired by nature, the pulse of an urban life, and a long time love and appreciation for antique jewelry and fine art. I do my best to find balance in asymmetry and to honor the perfect imperfections of our natural world… a broken twig, the skeleton of a leaf starting to reveal itself, the way a hydrangea blossom turns from soft white to coppery brown, all the while keeping its perfect grace and form. My design perspective follows my belief that every element in a piece should have a relationship with the next, no matter how significant or insignificant.”

Essence, or mood, is another driving force within Hyde’s jewelry designs. So it’s only natural that mood plays a significant role in how she selects her materials that ultimately inspires her designs. She believes jewelry should be worn for its beauty and for fashion, but also as a reflection of personality and a representation of the intuitive spirit.