Alpa Sheth
Jeweler & MetalSmith

I have been shaped by two diametrically opposite cultures by growing up in the East and then living in the West. My upbringing in India was deeply rooted in vibrant festivals and rituals. Living in New York City and California as an adult, I was immersed in fashion while working as a designer before embracing a career as a jeweler.
My hand-fabricated jewelry is made from a variety of materials, including cement, brass, copper, silver, acrylic and wood. I often incorporate found objects such as steel washers and unusual weathered metal parts collected on my walks through the streets of San Francisco. My jewelry is wearable sculpture, a fusion of structure and organic softness in a palate of industrial and natural materials, overall conveying a quiet yet dynamic minimalism.
Straddling two cultures and reshaping myself to fit into a new life or career has made me comfortable with duality and transformation, a juxtaposition of defined and undefined paths. Contrasting ideas such as structure and fluidity, perfection and imperfection, symmetry and asymmetry, find their way into my work. The “Waver” collection captures the fluidity of water using metal (bronze and silver) in various necklaces, rings and earrings, Basic round and oval shapes are dramatically combined in asymmetrical patterns and interlocked to create the feeling of a moving body of water.
Crossing borders and cultures is an avid interest of mine. I enjoy making connections with people, to learn about their lives, customs and experiences. I am prone to getting lost, which many times reveals interesting new adventures while traveling or a new direction in my jewelry. A favorite of mine is the “Landscape” collection, inspired by the soft curvy ridges highlighted by the afternoon sun as I stood on top of a 50 foot high dune in Sand Dunes National Park. Climbing a mountain of sand was not an easy task but totally worth the view it presented, which later wove its aesthetics into a collection of jewelry in wood and metal.
I love being outdoors, where I am inspired by all things natural and urban. Inspiration can come from the textures of the plants in Golden Gate Park or the meaningful architecture of the museums in San Francisco; from the indentations on the glassy surface of a vast ocean to the footprints of ancient temples of India; the weathered cracks on the surfaces of rocks or the patterned screens in Mogul palaces. Each piece of jewelry I create is a three-dimensional record of my visual and cultural experiences.
Education:
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BFA in Adverstising & Visual Communication, 1986, Sir J.J. School of Arts, Mumbai, India.
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AA in Fashion Design, 1994, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, USA.
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MFA in Jewelry & Metals Arts, 2019, Academy of Arts University, San Francisco, USA.
Experience:
Art Director - Advertising, India (1986 -1990)
Fashion designer / Creative director - New York (1994 -2006)
Jeweler and Metalsmith - San Francisco (2019 - present)
Studio Assistant to Harriete Estel Berman - San Mateo (2022 - present)
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Exhibitions:
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Spring Show 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019; Academy of Arts University, San Francisco, CA
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"Past, Present, Future" Alumni Show 2019; Academy of Arts University; San Francisco, CA
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Shows:
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Holiday Craft Show "Gifty" 2021 : The Crucibles; Oakland, CA
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Holiday Craft Show "Gifty" 2022 : The Crucibles; Oakland, CA
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Holiday Craft Show "Gifty" 2023 : The Crucibles; Oakland, CA
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Holiday Craft Show "Gifty" 2024 : The Crucibles; Oakland, CA
Galleries:
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Museum of Art in Wood, Philadelphia
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