Rising Stars: Meet Margeaux Zadikian of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Margeaux Zadikian.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always been fascinated by adornment. When I was a child, my father would take me to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC every Sunday. I distinctly remember my fascination with various sections of ancient jewelry—Mesopotamian, Greek, Egyptian, pre-Columbian—wishing I could find jewelry that looked like that today. Little did I know that someday I’d make my own jewelry that draws on those roots (whether consciously or subconsciously).

I come from a family of artists: my father is a sculptor, my mother was an opera singer and fashion designer, and my brother is a filmmaker. My love of dance led me at an early age to a professional modern ballet career with Feld Ballets/NY. Art and the world of form have always been essential parts of my life.

I’ve spent the better part of my life looking at lines and forms, learning how to create them with my body. Now, I do the same with wax, metal, and stones. I’ve been very fortunate to find a mentor who is a master stone carver, facetor, and fabricator who has been mining stones and making jewelry for the last 60 years. Having him as a source of knowledge, education, and guidance has been invaluable.

The work I make is an expression of what speaks to me—a place deep within that rarely feels like my own. The creative process is a mystery; an infinite pool of inspiration to tap into that gives birth to a unique creation. How sweet it is to taste the fruit of one’s creation, through the art of being able to adorn oneself with forms we wield into existence.

The name “Of The Pearl” is a personal one. Margeaux means pearl, and sometimes, as inspiration comes, it feels like a vague knowing of what needs to be made. As I work with the material in my hands, the piece is born; where it comes from, I do not know!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In some ways, yes. I found myself wanting to make jewelry during the height of COVID since I was homebound most days. That’s when I absolutely fell in love with it. Most of my time was spent at my father’s art studio playing with clay and wax, enjoying the pure fun of exploring my own creativity. Years later, after considering it as a serious path forward, I met my mentor by chance while shopping for raw gemstones. So, in many ways, things have unfolded effortlessly.

I think what I struggle with most is time. I have an 11-year-old daughter with special needs who requires quite a bit of my care and attention, so juggling her needs, my own needs, and the needs of the business is where things get challenging. But one can only do so much, so taking it a day at a time—sometimes a moment at a time—is the best approach.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m most interested in making jewelry by hand. In a time when almost everything is designed with computer software and manufactured by machines, I long for the handmade. I always remember my father saying to me, “The more of you that’s in it, the better.” That always rang true.

I think all of life is a series of moments… decisions. Creatively, I find that I keep making the same decisions over and over again. I think that’s all someone’s style and aesthetic sensibility is. My eyes have been trained to recognize beauty in a very specific way—through sculpture, dance, and the highly practiced art of seeing beauty in lines and forms—and so I keep making those same choices, albeit in infinite variations.

I think there’s a growing desire for the handmade; for the care and thoughtfulness that goes into making something with your hands. I am especially finding this to be true with the resurgence of stone carving, which is a rare art form. Carving stones is an ancient practice, and more and more high-end brands are recognizing its beauty and value. I plan on showcasing many more hand-carved stones as part of my main collection moving forward.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
As cliché as it sounds – to do what you love. There are times when I wish I had taken up jewelry making in my early twenties, and I think: imagine where I’d be now if I had. But I also realize that people are like flowers, and you bloom when it’s your time. When I lean into that, it’s incredibly comforting. The jewelry I make today is a reflection of the richness of my life experiences—of the person I’ve become. I could never have made the pieces I make today in my twenties.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ofthepearl/