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Sarah Holden

@holdensc

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Metalsmith. Mama. Chicago.
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Jewelry Portfolio @holdenmetalsco

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Sarah Holden⁠’s necklaces are a contemporary mix of chains and pearls. Whether you go with the pretty pink or the bold mix of black and white, any piece will elevate your next look. ⁠
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#contemporaryartjewelry #wearableart #chicagojewelrystore #handmadejewelry #uniquegifts taken in Pistachios Contemporary Art Jewelry by @holdensc

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9 days ago

I’m so excited to announce that I will be presenting as a visiting artist next week @siuemetalsmithing We’ll be chatting metalsmithing, making art, applying for grants and working to make it in the art world. I’m super excited to be doing a steel fabrication demo with the students as well as talk about my work. Next week is going to be so fun! #siuedwardsville #sarahholdenmetalsmith #contemporarycraft #metalsmithing #sarahholden by @holdensc

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9 days ago

Loads & Loads & Loads of Jewels making their way out the door these days. And I have been CRANKING on those website updates lately too! Here’s a piece I got to make for a new client who has really great taste and recently bought several of my favorite pieces.

This is the sterling silver curvy link chain. Always .925 solid sterling silver. Always made in my Chicago contemporary art jewelry studio. Always perfect for you, or we make it right.

The crazy holiday rush has already started and I’m HERE for it! It’s a lot, but it sure is fun 💗💎💗💎💗💎💗
#sarahholdenjewelry #sarahholdenmetalsmith #sarahholden #chicagojewelry #chicagojewelers by @holdensc

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10 days ago

Sarah Holden @holdensc was my first in-gallery purchase, way before I had the language for contemporary art jewelry. I’ve been collecting and following her work ever since.

With time, Sarah’s practice has become one of the touchstones for how I learned to look. Her point of view is so clear, and her work rewards attention without requiring you to arrive with an explanation for why you love it. I think that is part of why I have loved it for so long.

We’ve just received a new collection at Sifuentes Metalsmith, with new work alongside fresh versions of longtime favorites.

See the full collection through the link in our bio, or come spend some time with it in person.

And if one piece keeps pulling you back, tell me which one. taken in Sifuentes Metalsmith by @holdensc

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23 days ago

Hiiiiii! There sure are a lot of you that are new here. I wanted to take a few minutes to reintroduce myself. I’m a Metalsmith, jeweler & sculptor living in Chicago. Drop an image if your work or something that you love in the comments below. Great to see so many new crafty people following along #sarahholdenmetalsmith #ladysmith #peoplewhocraft #fyp by @holdensc

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2 months ago

W O W… I knew making scissors would be hard, but I did not expect to walk away from this workshop with not just one, but THREE pairs of scissors. Working on a coal forge after a 2 year hiatus, dealing with daily downpours & hot sticky days, squeezing in all the demos + work time + eating + slides - I literally used EVERY MINUTE

Instructors Peter Ross & @sethgould worked so well together. I have to admit, I had not heard of Peter Ross before this workshop @penlandschool but what a gem he is! Peter Ross a legend in the blacksmithing community, and now I understand why. A entire working career in blacksmithing & fabricating 18th century iron world certainly develops a lot of knowledge & experience (and some of the best one liner jokes, he was always catching me off guard ❤️). I hope to keep in touch with Peter and his incredible works.

Seth I have known for a little while, but having two weeks to watch him work & hear about him talk about his practice and dedication to pushing the limits of what he can do was so motivating. I have so many new fun things to try in my work.

Driving from the Windy City of Chicago to Mountains of North Carolina (11 hours!) is always such a treat, and this trip was no different. Moving from the steel & cement environment to the rolling mountains of curvy roads, wide open prairies of wild flowers adorned with old barns & fog is something that I will dream of until I do it again one day.

Thank you to all my classmates - who also worked damn hard & pushed me to keep going- we all finished with at least one pair of scissors & learned so much from each other.

One last shout out to AUTUMN!!! @blueonionbench So fun to have some much needed hang time friend! 💗💗

Y’all RULE 🤘🤘🤘 Until next time!! ✂️✂️✂️

#sarahholdenmetalsmith #fabricate #penlandschoolofcrafts #metalsmithing #blacksmithing taken in Penland School of Crafts by @holdensc

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2 months ago

Here we go! Do you recognize that building in the back? YEP it’s the @penlandschool iron shop. Making some laminated scissors this week with Seth Gould & Peter Ross. So pumped to be back on the hill, and kinda can’t believe that I’m back again.. so excited to get covered in iron dust & make cool metal things. Follow along to see all the cool iron tings! Also thank you to my babe @termineyda for this fresh set before I arrived. Let’s see if I can be a lady and keep them all on while I’m here #penlandschoolofcrafts #penlandiron #metalsmith #contemporarycraft #sarahholdenmetalsmith taken in Penland School of Crafts by @holdensc

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3 months ago

Custom Work. I don’t really advertise it. Honestly, I end up doing it mostly for family & friends because it’s such a time investment. I really put everything I’ve got into it.

💗Let me tell you a story about my friend Ellie @eleanorbush

Ellie was one of the first people that I met when I moved to Chicago 15 years ago. She was a parent before me and taught me how to be a cool parent. We’ve done it all together, kid hangouts, late nightclub hangs, backyard cookouts, covid 🫣 and of course all the best things that you can do when someone this awesome lives right next door to you. Sadly Ellie has since moved, back to Europe where she was born & raised, and I have moved as well but those years remain really special to me because of Ellie & her family being such amazing neighbors all those years. We really lucked out!

So, naturally I was super honored to remake a strand of pearls that Ellie had inherited from her Granny. It may have taken me way longer to do it than i promised 😬 but it was still so special.

The custom engraved sterling silver box clasp came together just how I dreamed that I would. How special it was to think of you and go down memory lane while pulling this together for you. I hope you love it!

xo
Sarah
#sarahholdenmetalsmith #pearljewelry #handknotted #engraved #artistmadejewelry by @holdensc

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3 months ago

VIRTUAL STUDIO VISIT | Sarah Holden, Part II

Sarah’s sculpture and limited production jewelry investigates how female identity is constructed and performed through the body and can be found at galleries across the US.

Q: Do you have any tools with sentimental value? What/Where/Who do they connect you to?
A: I love collecting tools and items that my friends and fellow artists make. It keeps me connected to my people while I am not around them. My favorite steel block is by Pat Quinn and Kyle Martin over at The Center for Metal Arts, I have a brush by Adam Atkinson that is so soft and so perfect for getting in the small spaces, a collection of enameled bowls by Laura Fortune that I grabbed from her more than a decade ago, and a stunning enameled plate by Aurélie Guillaume that gives me so much joy. Also, the first tool that I bought for myself after graduate school is my 100lb Trenton anvil. I use it every day and it is my favorite tool in the shop!

Q: Is there something you are trying now that challenges you?
A: My constant challenge is trying to get all the things done that I want to do as an artist. Making limited-production jewelry, one-of-a-kind jewelry and sculpture. All these but also be a good mom and try to make sure that I am enjoying these kids as they grow up. I feel like I have more ideas, skills and opportunities than ever before and less time because I reserve so much to be with my family during this special time. It’s tough to do it all, but I sure am trying to make it work.

Q: What artist (visual or otherwise, living or dead) do you dream of sharing a studio with?
A: Man, what I wouldn’t give to share a studio with Lee Bontecou or Louise Borgeouis. These women are absolute icons to me. My work is so inspired by their work, their writings and their thoughts. What a dream it would be to even have met them before they died. Sharing a studio even for a day would be so legendary.

Oval Link Collar
Sterling silver

Engraved Drops
Sterling silver, mother of pearl

Triple Pearly Hoop | Mini | Silver
Sterling silver, freshwater pearls

To purchase or see more of Sarah's work please follow the link in the bio.

#penlandschoolofcraft taken in Penland Gallery & Visitors Center by @holdensc

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3 months ago

Sarah Holden⁠ recently dropped by the gallery to deliver new work! We are happy to have some of her classic statement necklaces back in stock as well as a collection of new, one-of-a-kind abalone and pearl earrings!⁠
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#contemporaryartjewelry #wearableart #chicagoboutique #handmadejewelry #SNAGmember taken in Pistachios Contemporary Art Jewelry by @holdensc

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3 months ago

I added a new bracelet to my stack. Can you tell which one it is? It only took two undisturbed full days in the shop for me to start an entirely new collection. How much studio time do you get? Not much for me lately…

But it brings up an important question - how into bracelets are you? I recently had a client say that was their new favorite thing to collect. And I’ve almost sold out of the one bracelet style that I offer in my shop, so I think I’m jumping on this bracelet trend. I’ve got two or three ideas rattling around. I sure hope that I get more big studio days this summer so I can fully flush out some ideas.

Anyhow, here’s my view & my stack. Can you guess who I’m wearing?

Smokin hot nails by the best @termineyda

#jewelrycollection #contemporaryjewels #sarahholdenmetalsmith #bangles #braceletstack by @holdensc

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4 months ago

First full day back in the shop since I honestly can’t remember when. Summer is a hustle. The teaching gig is demanding, gotta get that summer fun in & all the other distractions are within an arms length. Hoping to pump out some fun things in the next few weeks #staytuned #sarahholdenmetalsmith #chicagojeweler #contemporaryjewelery taken in Chicago, Illinois by @holdensc

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4 months ago