I met artist and jewelry designer, Diana Gabriel, at Lynn Dell’s Off Broadway Boutique several years ago. I’ve been admiring her sculptural jewelry for a long time and was thrilled to finally run into her again on the Upper West Side last week.

When people try to sell me a necklace or something I always say I don’t wear OPG(other people’s jewels). I was lucky to have such an incredible mother. She made everything I wore, every pajama, every coat, until I got my first job. I studied Psychology and studio art and at Hunter college and have been painting and sculpting my whole life. One day I started to work with beads and then transitioned into silver work. I think of my jewelry as sculpture. I don’t think you are really dressed until you put the whole ensemble on. The right shoes, the right necklace. I don’t like little dabs of jewelry. I like simples clothes with bold jewels.- DG

Check out more of Diana Gabriel’s work HERE.