about

Renee Gaudet is an independent maker of bold and elegant, yet minimal jewelry. Renee Gaudet Designs’ mission is to create quality handcrafted pieces that stand as wearable sculptures. RGD believes in an evolving creative process that transforms mistakes into inspiration for a new design, striking a balance of curious exploration and architectural precision.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My hands and mind are my most valuable tools. Though I always wear a helmet; except for that one time, I have yet to figure out how to protect my hands from scars and bruises. Our hands tell stories and form a part of our identities. I enjoy looking at people's hands to figure out how they spend their time, clenching chalk in front of the classroom or pulling bread in and out of an oven. I look to jewelry, in order to understand how people want to be seen by the world.  As a jeweler, I have the opportunity to create a piece that will help a person to feel more connected and this is one reason why I love what I do.

My work captures the story of the creative process I use to make my designs. I construct and deconstruct hollow forms. I am curious to discover new perspectives and dimensions. It is architectural in form and kinetic by design. The linear forms and refined edges of my jewelry defy the playful nature of how it was made. I imagine all of my small metal sculptures as post apocalypse creatures, but incorporate concrete and pigment to add some optimism.  As an artist I take risks and willingly optimize miscalculations to provoke new designs.

BIO

Renee grew up in Sarasota, Florida and loves Florida. She learned a lot from her tropical environment growing up between the ocean and swamps. If you stand still for too long, plants will consume you.  So she is always on the move exploring and learning. She first learned about metalsmithing in the Fall of 2013 at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina.  She gained a broad but deep understanding of the materials and the metalsmithing process. This gave her a strong foundation to continue learning on her own.  As a student she learned a technique called hollow form and fabricated her first hollow form ring. She built a bulky ring that was hideous, but hollow. Her intention was to throw it in the scrap bin, but she wanted to destroy it first.  She sawed away at the corners, which revealed the angles, depth and dimension of the hollow structure. Though, raw and undeveloped this mistake inspired the bold and elegant yet minimal aesthetics of Renee Gaudet Designs.

CURRENTLY

In 2019 Renee Gaudet graduated from the Profession Craft Program: Jewelry at Haywood Community College in Clyde, NC. She further expanded her skills as a metalsmith and focused on business development for Renee Gaudet Designs. She is currently the sole owner, designer and maker for Renee Gaudet Designs and looks forward to sharing her new work very soon.