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Harold O'Connor

Jeweller
Published: 28.03.2024

Bio

Harold O’Connor is an American artist practicing in Salida, USA. O’Connor mastered his skills as a jeweller through numerous international institutions including the National Arts And Crafts School in Copenhagen and Fachochschule Fur Gestaltung in Pforzheim. As an active member of the jewellery community, O’Connor has participated in over 200 group exhibitions, conducted workshops in 14 countries and published several books on jewellery techniques. His artistic practice focuses upon using traditional techniques of metalwork in a contemporary way.

Statement

I approach jewelry making as a fine art. I enjoy working with diverse materials for their aesthetic value, NOT their intrinsic value. My work over the years has focused upon using traditional techniques of metalwork in a contemporary way. My works are sculptural in nature as my influences are inspired from living and past sculptures working in stone, wood and metal. I create small objects which happen to be wearable. Other influences in my art come from my travels to exotic lands, interaction with nature, and reaction to facets of society.

During the last two years, I have experimented with a vaccum casting machine utilizing plastic sheets. The sheets are heats and then formed over ridig stone or other forms by heat/vaccum pressure. These forms are then cast into silver or gold and then finished in conventional means. Other works are a continuation of my current investigation of the granulation process.

CV      View / hide description

Events      View / hide events

2022:
Exhibition  01 Dec 2022 - 30 Jan 2023  Old Meets New and New Narratives.
Exhibition  01 Jun 2022 - 30 Sep 2022  Season of Blue.
2021:
Exhibition  29 Apr 2021 - 29 May 2021  The Quiet Beauty and Resplendence of Harold O'Connor.
2020:
Exhibition  15 Nov 2020 - 09 Jan 2021  Patina Presents: A Season of Gratitude.
Exhibition  31 May 2020 - 01 Jul 2020  A Curated Collection of Harold O'Connor.
2019:
Exhibition  19 Nov 2019 - 23 Nov 2019  The Art of the Ring. Revisited & Redefined.
Exhibition  07 Nov 2019 - 03 Jan 2020  Connections/Connessioni.
Exhibition  06 Apr 2019 - 11 May 2019  New Work by Harold O'Connor.
2018:
Exhibition  08 Dec 2018 - 31 Jan 2019  Spotlight Exhibitions for 40th Year Celebration.
2017:
Exhibition  17 Nov 2017 - 28 May 2018  Jewelry of Ideas: Gifts from the Susan Grant Lewin Collection..
2016:
2014:
Exhibition  01 Oct 2014 - 01 Nov 2014  The 40th Anniversary of the Aaron Faber Gallery.
Exhibition  02 Sep 2014 - 30 Sep 2014  The Art of The Ring.
Workshop  07 Jul 2014 - 26 Sep 2014  Le Arti Orafe Intensive and Summer Courses.
2013:
Exhibition  07 Dec 2013 - 31 Jan 2014  Objects of Status, Power & Adornment Part II.
Exhibition  09 Nov 2013 - 29 Nov 2013  Harold O'Connor: Spotlight.
Workshop  27 May 2013 - 29 May 2013  Harold O’Connor: Granulation.
2012:
Workshop  07 May 2012 - 09 May 2012  Harold O’Connor: Granulation.
2011:
Exhibition  13 Sep 2011 - 12 Nov 2011  Objects of Status, Power and Adornment.
2010:
Exhibition  20 Oct 2010 - 26 Oct 2010  LOOT! 2010.
2008:
Exhibition  29 Oct 2008 - 30 Nov 2008  The pendant show.

Publications      View / hide publications

Book:  Silver Meetings 2. Contemporary Jewellery in Legnica 2012 - 2019. Gallery of Art in LegnicaGallery of Art in Legnica:  Legnica,  2019