NicoTaeymans

At the age of14 I decided to become an artist. Antwerp St Lucas academy was the start of my artists development. Circumstances and the (then still) mandatory army service forced me to abandon school. The following years I spent with a fulltime job in the shipping business, combined with evening school and apprenticeships to develop my skills in jewelry and sculptural techniques.

With wooden and stone sculpture, gold and silver jewelry, I participated on quite a number of craftfairs and expositions. In due time my passion for silver and pewter made them my chosen materials, even though I continued to use (and still do) stones, gems, wood and whatever I can lay my hands on, always keeping in touch with nature and it’s magnificent organic shapes. I forged my own signature style, with it’s pure strong lines and natural, authentic feel.

In the mean time, I remained active with evening schools, training and specialised masterclasses abroad. Along with the dynamic atmosphere of the nineties and 2000 our business boomed.

Suddenly I woke up and realized I was famous. People really liked my jewelry.
I was the owner of three brandshops and more than 150 shops in Belgium, the Netherlands and all over the world sold my jewelry. My workshop had become a factory with 30 employees, stylists and a lot of administration.

Too beautiful to last long. With the crisis in 2008, my little empire crumbled.

Because my art and myself are one and the same, I rebuild my company. A small company with a small team, my two shops and the dealers that survived the crisis.

And so, here I am.
What I want is to make beautiful pieces for men and woman, young and old. I want the jewelry to make part of my customers, like a second skin. They may sometimes be very outspoken, my jewelry highlights the wearers personality.
My creations are meant to be part of the daily changing life of people. As an artist I tell stories. Stories of a surrounding world in which people find their own spot.

I’m particularly proud that all jewelry is made in our own workshop, by myself and my team. I think this will become increasingly important in the next decades.

To make and create is my gift and my life.

So if you don’t find me in the workshop or with a pencil or other, find me in the woods or on a beach, hunting for nature wonderous treasures like shells and tree-bark, all of it very inspiring.