Daily Inspiration: Meet Lisette Thierry

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisette Thierry.

Hi Lisette, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started working in precious metals in the 70’s, when I was approached by a fellow student to make a macrame’ ring for him out of silver instead of cord. I was majoring in architecture at the time. Once I took on this project, I realized that this was the path I wanted to follow. I dropped out of architecture and went on an educational journey to become a jeweler, eventually receiving a BFA from the Art Department at CSU Long Beach specializing in Metalsmithing & Jewelry.

For many years I participated in Art shows across the country, including the American Craft Council Shows and sold to galleries across the country. I worked for a firm that created the jewelry for the TV series “Moonlighting” which was worn by Cybill Shepherd in her role. Currently, I primarily create one-of-a-kind pieces using unusual gemstones from around the world for private customers and participate in local community and art organization shows, including a Palos Verdes Art Center show once a month during the summer at Malaga Cove where members of the art center’s art groups can exhibit.

In 2021, I was honored to be an artist in an exhibit curated by La Mar R Gayles, Jr at the Metal Museum in Memphis, TN. It is the only metal museum in the country. The exhibit was titled “Divine Legacies in Black Jewelry. It was the first exhibit of its kind to focus on jewelers of the Black Diaspora of the Americas.

In an age of computer technology in the jewelry industry, CAD programs can design and engineer a piece of jewelry from concept to a finished piece. I still use art and craft by working with a pencil and sketch pad to design my creations. The use of traditional hand tools to fabricate each piece in precious metals brings my art to life.

In my work, my choice of stones is all about cut, color & quality. I utilize gemstones that have been ethically mined from around the world. I specialize in unusual stones including jaspers, agates, copper ore minerals, fossilized woods and fossilized dinosaur bone to name a few.

I currently work in an artist’s co-op building where I am surrounded by painters and printmakers. It’s a great community to be a part of.

There are many art movements and cultures that have inspired me from the Scythians who roamed the Russian Steppes from 900-200bc to the magnificent work of Rene’ Lalique which epitomizes the Art Nouveau Movement. I am always inspired by my fellow artists and the natural beauty around me.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are always challenges as an artist, particularly for an African American Artist who works outside of the box of what society expects us to create as African Americans. Consequently, I was regularly questioned as to whether or not the work I created was my own. I still run into that kind of skepticism and questioning of my French name (is it my given name(YES) or did I make it up to be arty (NO). Yep, still answering that question in this day and age. I think that the effort to restrict an individual’s creative vision based upon race is a terrible thing to do, not to mention that it is not another person’s right or place to deny a creative individual’s right to, well, be an individual.

I strive to do the best work that I can artistically and technically influence by the world around me, I creatively continuing to grow following my own path.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What I am known for is primarily my metal piercing skills utilizing a hand jeweler’s saw. A comment that is often made about my work is that it is technically clean, my use of exotic stones and a line of one-of-a-kind Sandetched stones that I design and are used in my work and the work of other jewelers. What I am most proud of in my work is following my path and not letting others dictate what I should do as a creative person.

My design aesthetic, which also includes my choice of stones, is what sets me apart.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
What is not so well known about me is that I worked in pen & ink for years creating greeting cards which also utilized hand-dyed & painted papers (which I also created). I’ve worked in textiles using a variety of techniques for surface design and creating a limited production line of garments and household textiles. In the midst of all of the above, I sang with a community choir, The Torrance Civic Chorale, in the 80s. In addition to community events, we were accepted to perform at the World Expo in Vancouver, BC, Canada in 1986 and at the annual Christmas Eve Music Event at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion during that same time frame.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lisettethierry.com
• Instagram: @lisettethierry