Donald Friedlich
Jewellery maker
Madison, WI, USA
Recommended by American Craft Council
Glass as a wearable medium
- Donald is both a jewellery maker and glass artist
- His practice is driven by material innovation and discovery
- He works with cold and warm glassworking techniques
Working with glass, Donald Friedlich creates jewellery pieces with unique optical properties. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, he served as president of the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG). Donald is recognised for expanding the possibilities of glass as a wearable medium. His jewellery explores the relationships between colour, light, movement, materiality and perception. "The best part of being an artist is that, if you work it right, you can have a lifetime of learning and growth," Donald says. His jewellery practice is marked by technical experimentation, contributing to the language of contemporary jewellery.
Discover his work
INTERVIEW
When I was 20 years old, I met a jeweller while skiing in Vermont, and she taught me the craft. Up until then, I was interested in science and math, but I did always like working with my hands. I discovered a creative side of my brain that had been completely dormant. Eventually, this experience led to jewellery and art classes at the University of Vermont and RISD.
At RISD, a professional practices class taught by Dale Chihuly introduced me to the studio glass movement and piqued my interest. Initially, glass was a way to bring colour into my jewellery. However, after taking classes at the Corning Museum of Glass to build a new set of skills, I was hooked by the extraordinary visual and technical range of the craft.
I choose the technique that best fits the idea. I am trained as a jeweller, but I have integrated a wide array of warm and cold glass processes into my practice. For hot glass work like blowing, I collaborate with skilled artisans.
While the traditional process provides the base, it is the innovation and discovery that drive me the most.
