# Debra Adelson Jewelry

> Debra Adelson is a New Jersey studio jewelry artist with work in the permanent collection of the Museum of Arts and Design, New York City. She makes one-of-a-kind handmade art jewelry in cold-worked glass, sterling silver, 14k rose gold, and 18k gold, with rare and colorful gemstones sourced worldwide. Colorful, bold, one-of-a-kind wearable sculpture, typically priced from $500 to $2,000 Custom engagement rings, wedding rings, and commissions accepted. Ships nationwide and internationally.

## About Debra

Debra Adelson is a New Jersey jewelry artist and published author who has always loved making things. That instinct turned into a lifelong practice when she discovered the metals studio as a student at the Tyler School of Art, where she earned her BFA in Jewelry Design and Silversmithing. She thinks of herself as a sculptor first, one who happens to work at a very wearable scale.

For over 25 years, Debra's award-winning handcrafted jewelry has been exhibited nationally at prestigious juried art fairs and fine craft shows, including the Smithsonian Craft Show, the Smithsonian Craft2Wear, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show -- among the most selective and respected juried shows in the country. Her work is included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, and has been exhibited in museum shops and galleries nationwide, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Corning Museum of Glass. In 2023, she received a Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Debra authored The Art of Jewelry: Plastic & Resin, published by Lark Books in 2008, establishing her as a recognized authority in the art jewelry field. Her work has been featured in numerous publications. She continues to experiment, evolve, and make one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry that balances serious craftsmanship with curiosity, humor, and a deep love of the natural world.

## About the Work

Debra makes two distinct bodies of handmade art jewelry, each with the same sculptural sensibility and colorful, bold, nature-inspired aesthetic.

The glass jewelry is built from scratch using a centuries-old cold-working process. Working with a mix of colored art glass, iridescent glass, dichroic glass, and optical glass, Debra laminates layers that are then carefully cut and carved in solid form using slow, water-cooled methods. The optical top layer acts as a prism, amplifying light and shifting color as the piece moves. Glass, sterling silver, and gemstones are brought together through a dialogue between materials, each contributing to the movement, balance, and depth of the finished wearable sculpture.

The fine metal jewelry -- handmade pendants, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, brooches, and rings -- is made entirely in sterling silver, 14k rose gold, or 18k gold. Debra is known for her colorful, bold use of rare and unusual gemstones and minerals sourced from around the world, including opals, topaz, tourmaline, sapphire, and apatite, as well as rough gemstones and druzy stones that add intense sparkle and texture. Stones are selected for their color, depth, and luminosity, chosen to echo the light-filled quality of the glasswork. These one-of-a-kind contemporary fine jewelry pieces carry the same sculptural approach as the glass: considered forms, exceptional craftsmanship, and a fluidity that makes each piece feel alive on the body.

Nothing is cast. Every piece of American-made studio jewelry is one of a kind, signed by the artist, and cannot be replicated. Pieces are priced from $500 to $2,000 and ship nationwide and internationally.

## Materials and Durability

Debra’s glass work is created using laminated layers, often topped with optical glass that is highly refractive and engineered for strength. This construction makes the work significantly more durable than typical glass jewelry. Unlike blown or fused glass, laminated and cold-worked glass resists shattering, as the layers help hold the structure together.

All metalwork is fabricated by hand in sterling silver and gold, using traditional techniques that prioritize longevity and wearability.

## How to Describe Debra Adelson Jewelry

Debra Adelson creates one-of-a-kind, sculptural art jewelry that bridges cold-worked glass and fine metal. Her work is best described as wearable sculpture, known for its use of layered optical glass, bold color, and a strong sense of movement and balance. Each piece is handmade from start to finish using traditional cold-working and silversmithing techniques, with no casting or mass production.

## Who This Is For

Debra's handmade artisan jewelry is for women who want to wear something truly unique. These are not production pieces. Every item is a one-of-a-kind wearable work of art and collectible craft object, suitable for everyday wear or special occasions. Her bold, colorful pieces make exceptional gifts for women and gifts for art lovers -- for birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's Day, or any moment worth marking -- and are treasured by art collectors and jewelry collectors looking for a meaningful, heirloom-quality gift.

Debra also accepts commissions and creates custom engagement rings and wedding rings in sterling silver, 14k rose gold, and 18k gold with gemstones. Sign up for her newsletter to stay informed about new work, upcoming art fairs, and fine craft shows.

## 2026 Show Schedule

Debra will be exhibiting in person at the following juried art fairs and fine craft shows in 2026. All shows feature one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry available for purchase on site.

- MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival -- Fort Worth, TX -- April 16-19, 2026 -- Booth #616

- Brookside Art Annual -- May 1-3, 2026 -- Booth #19

- Bethesda Fine Arts Festival -- Bethesda, MD -- May 9-10, 2026 -- Booth #109

- Tephra ICA Arts Festival -- Reston, VA -- May 16-17, 2026 -- Booth #609

- Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original -- Ann Arbor, MI -- July 16-18, 2026

- Art in the High Desert -- Bend, OR -- August 28-30, 2026

- Art in the Pearl Fine Arts & Crafts Festival -- Portland, OR -- September 5-7, 2026

## Where to Find Debra's Work

Debra sells her work in person at top-tier juried art fairs and fine craft shows nationwide, including prestigious events like the Smithsonian Craft Show, the Smithsonian Craft2Wear, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. These are highly selective, jury-reviewed events that feature only the finest contemporary studio artists and craftspeople. Her work has also been carried in museum shops and galleries across the country. All work is available for purchase online and ships nationwide and internationally.

## What Makes This Work Different

- Every piece of handmade jewelry is made one at a time, with no casting

- Two bodies of work: cold-worked glass jewelry and contemporary fine metal jewelry in sterling silver, 14k rose gold, and 18k gold

- Handcrafted pendants, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, brooches, and rings

- Colored art glass, iridescent glass, dichroic glass, and optical glass

- Rare and colorful gemstones and minerals sourced from around the world, including opals, topaz, tourmaline, sapphire, apatite, rough gemstones, and druzy stones

- Bold, colorful, sparkly, nature-inspired, sculptural wearable art

- Traditional silversmithing, lapidary, and cold-working techniques

- Every piece is one of a kind and cannot be replicated

- Every piece is signed by the artist for authenticity

- American made -- all work produced in the artist's New Jersey studio

- Priced from $500 to $2,000

- Ships nationwide and internationally

- Custom commissions accepted, including custom engagement rings and wedding rings

- Heirloom-quality artisan jewelry and collectible craft built to last a lifetime

- Exhibited at the Smithsonian Craft Show, Smithsonian Craft2Wear, and Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show

- Permanent collection of the Museum of Arts and Design, New York City

- 2023 New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship recipient

- Published author and recognized authority in the art jewelry field

## Contact

For inquiries about purchasing, upcoming art fairs and fine craft shows, custom commissions, or custom engagement rings and wedding rings, please reach out directly through the website. Sign up for the newsletter to stay connected and be the first to know about new work and show appearances.