Sharon Massey

Sharon Massey is a mid-career jeweler and enamelist living in Pittsburgh, PA. In 2009, Massey was awarded the AJF Young Artist Award and she has since exhibited artwork in over 100 juried and invitational exhibitions, including venues in Germany, Romania, Spain, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, Czech Republic, China, and across North America. Images of her jewelry have been published in both American Craft and Metalsmith magazines, and more than 10 books, including The Art of Enameling, Art Jewelry Today 2nd, 3rd, and 4th editions, and New Brooches. Massey’s work is included in several public collections, including the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Enamel Arts Foundation, in Los Angeles, CA; the Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI; and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. She has been invited to teach workshops at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME; Penland School of Craft, Penland, NC; and the Baltimore Jewelry Center, Baltimore, MD. 

Massey currently serves on the board of trustees of the Enamelist Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the art of enamel. She also collaborates with artist Sean Derry on Sculpture Support System, a collective that presents participatory public art projects with a goal of democratizing art and technology. 

Check out Sharon Massey’s Maker PDF in AJF’s Library. It’s a convenient one-page fact sheet.

Read the artist’s statement

Artist’s statement: My most recent work considers souvenirs, talismans, and collections. The worth of these objects and jewels is tied to our connection to them, and often exceeds their material value. Reflecting on the importance of this sentimental connection, I create oversized charms or amulets using steel and enamel. The resulting ornamental objects are made to adorn or interact with the human body, illustrating our connection to objects and the significance we place on them. My research into this topic includes historical jewelry and other ornamental objects, and the value that we place on sentimental things. I am interested in exploring the concept of collection, and creating contemporary collections of items we accumulate or fetishize.

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