Victoria A. Epstein
When I was a young girl I loved all kinds of jewelry. As I grew up, a child of the 80’s, I wore crazy Madonna type earrings (the bigger the better) and gummy bracelets & big brass bangles all up my arms. People in my small-town school used to tell me that I had fishing lures in my ears.
I started with one class at the 92nd Street Y in NYC in 2002 and never looked back. I use sterling silver, copper, gold, shakudo, shibuchi & bronze in my work. My main focus for the past few years has been my mixed metal work with Shakudo & Sterling and creating one of a kind pieces.
My jewelry reflects my personal and individual approach to style. I get inspiration from my urban surroundings. I see beauty in places where most would not. I look at everyday objects like street grates, elevators or railings and I see jewelry. I have a fascination with roundness and spots and this is greatly reflected in my work. As I continue to learn new techniques, study with new teachers, and work solo in my studio, my work evolves and grows.
Victoria was born & raised in South Central, Michigan. She graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a BA in Theatre. She lived in New York City for over 20 years. In 2012 she relocated to Portland, Oregon and currently resides there with her husband, composer, Matt Wilcox. She studied metals at the 92nd Street Y in New York City for 10 years, and has also studied at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina & The Mendocino Arts Center in California. Her work has been featured in galleries in Portland and on The Oregon Coast, and she is currently a member of Rain Spark Gallery in Lake Oswego, Oregon. In addition to being a jewelry artist, Victoria is a professional stage manager for dance, theater and special events, having been a stage manager for The Lion King on Broadway for 8 years. She has also worked & traveled the world with numerous dance companies. Victoria was the Stage Manager of Oregon Ballet Theatre for eight years.
