ReipChopin

I was born in 1971 in Russia. My parents were soldiers in the standing army and I grew up moving from one army base to another. In my teenage years we lived in the island of Novia Zemelia, which is very close to the North Pole, there began my engagement with metals. I used to go out to the fields with the other kids in my neighborhood and play with military aircraft parts and trucks. we played, designed and built objects from iron and metal scraps. despite my artistic tendency and affection to creating - from cooking to knitting, I went to medical school but at same time took courses in fashion design and sewing.

In 1991 I moved to Israel and started a new life, which included to everyone's surprise a bachelor degree in computer science. I always had passion for analytical thought as well as creativity and an endless desire to learn more. despite all of that, something was always missing. I was working as a chef in restaurants and couldn't focus on one career. that restless feeling ended the day I entered "Bezalel academy of arts and design" in Jerusalem. I started to study jewelry designing at the department of Jewelry and Fashion and for the first time felt I was at home.

I became a lecturer in "Bezalel", "Shenkar" and "Tel-Hai" academy. I taught my students how to combine technique and conceptual thinking, gave master classes and continued to create my own art during all that time. my works were displayed in exhibitions in Israel and abroad and I even won some nice awards. today I'm giving private lessons in my studio, at Florentine neighborhood in Tel Aviv, and creating new collections of ready to wear jewelries.

My main influence is "Art Deco" - I like to create jewelries that present clean lines, geometric forms, minimalism and delicacy. I carve the metals from scratch and don't like to use castings. this technique provides much more accuracy and unique quality. I use a large selection of materials - 14K gold, 18K gold, sterling silver, platinum and more, inlaid with diamonds, ruby, sapphire, emerald and any precious stone you would like to combine (all of the metals i'm using are nickle free). I'm starting to upload new designs to my shop on Etsy, slowly but surely : ) you're more than welcome to check me up. if there is something special that you want to ask or order, don't hesitate to contact me and i'll try to do my best.

Yours,

Reip