Nancy Lee

Literary Arts ; Visual Arts : Jewelry , Mixed Media , Painting , Performers and Writers , Sculpture ; Kiln-fired enamel paintings

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Nancy Lee

Nancy Lee Designs

1125 Brookside Ave, C4

Indianapolis, IN 46202

317.937.1652

nancy@ndesignsmetal.com

leenld@iu.edu

Profile

Self-taught metalsmith, custom jeweler, and enamelist creating 2D/3D works using hand fabrication, casting, and/or forging techniques to create singular, emotive works for wear or display. Gallery owner and volunteer advocate for the arts.

Non-University Instruction

Studied Under:

Marilyn Smith

Angela

…

Nancy Lee

Nancy Lee Designs

1125 Brookside Ave, C4

Indianapolis, IN 46202

317.937.1652

nancy@ndesignsmetal.com

leenld@iu.edu

Profile

Self-taught metalsmith, custom jeweler, and enamelist creating 2D/3D works using hand fabrication, casting, and/or forging techniques to create singular, emotive works for wear or display. Gallery owner and volunteer advocate for the arts.

Non-University Instruction

Studied Under:

Marilyn Smith

Angela Bubash

Ginger Meek Allen

John Cogswell

Jan Harrell

Juan-Carlos Cabalerro

Michael David Sturlin

Currently attending Indiana University-Purdue University in the Liberal Arts College

Work Experience

1999 to Present

Nancy Lee Designs

Indianapolis, IN

Metalsmith, Gallerist, Instructor

Metalsmith: Designs and fabricates enameled copper paintings, forged copper sculpture, and fabricated metal jewelry for sale direct to the public through galleries and online.

Gallerist: Owner of Nancy Lee Designs Studio, a gallery for showing works of local emerging and mid-career artists.

Instructor: Teaches metalsmithing privately and via workshops in the US and abroad.


2/2005-9/2008	Colliers Turley Martin Tucker	Indianapolis, IN
Manager, Construction Services

Managed construction services for tenant renovation projects in offices and industrial settings for multiple properties in Indianapolis and surrounding communities.

12/1999-2/2005	Indianapolis Museum of Art	Indianapolis, IN
Administrator, Business Operations

Provided direction and leadership within a team framework to manage $74 million expansion/renovation for fine arts museum. Multiple public speaking and meeting management requirements. Project completed within established budget and timeline, meeting museum strategic mission and goals. Promoted from Executive Assistant to Administrator, Business Operations in 2002.

Select Exhibitions

2019, Tiny VIII Show, Gallery 924, IN 2016, Tiny V Show, Gallery 924, IN 2016, Blue Show, The Harrison Center for the Arts, IN 2015, Tiny IV Show, Gallery 924, IN 2015, Black Tie Show, The Harrison Center for the Arts, IN 2014, Tiny III Show, Gallery 924, IN
2014, Faculty Show, Indianapolis Art Center, IN
2014, Trunk Show, Pattern Store, IN
2013, Faculty Show, Indianapolis Art Center, IN
2013, IDADA Members Exhibition, The Arch at Chatham, IN
2013, Solo Exhibition, Seed & Star Studio, IN
2013, Group Exhibition, Plainfield Library, IN
2012, ReStart Gallery Exhibition, Ivy Tech, Columbus, IN
2011, Faculty Show, Indianapolis Art Center, IN
2011, PUSH: Exploring Boundaries, Solo Show, IN
2010, Sketchbook Show, Raymond James Stutz ArtSpace, IN
2009, Midwest Fashion Week, Scottish Rite Cathedral, IN
2009, Faculty Show, Indianapolis Art Center, IN
2009, Oranje Juried Show, IN
2008, Earth Poems Show, Wug Laku’s Studio & Garage, IN
2008, Elegant Funk Exhibition, Circle City Industrial Complex, IN
2002, Masked Ball Gallery Exhibition, GC Lucas Gallery, IN

News/Interviews

Cleary, Vanessa: “Musical Jewelry,” NOTES, Sept. 5, 2015

Koller, Savary: “Hold Out Hope for Future Arts Coverage,” Indianapolis News Beat, Dec. 15, ‘14

Vandivier, Hugh: “A Chat with Nancy Lee,” SkyBlue Window Blog, Jan. 22, 2014

Eamon-Shine, Kirsten: “Perfectly Present-able,” SkyBlue Window Blog, Dec. 5, 2013

Schneider, Janet: “All we want for Christmas is…,” Indianapolis Star, Nov. 24, 2013

Winslow, Ethel: “Nancy Lee Designs a Bright Future,” Cover, Weekly View, Aug. 9, 2013

Schneider, Janet: “Author Event: Making Jewelry with Nancy Lee,” Indianapolis Star, Aug. 1, ‘13

Hinkel, Emily: “How to First Friday,” SkyBlue Window Blog, Apr. 2, 2013

Shoger, Scott: “Not Working: a chorus of the unemployed,” NUVO, Jul. 27, 2012

Gibson, DW: “Not Working: People Talk About Losing a Job and Finding Their Way in Today’s New Economy,” (final chapter in book) Penguin, Jul. 3, 2012

Grossman, Dan: “First Fridays – Circle City Industrial Complex,” NUVO, Jun. 01, 2011

Elig, Jenny: “Fashion Close-Ups: Nancy Lee,” Indianapolis Star, Mar. 27, 2011

Saetre, Julie Cope: “Artists Have Industrial Strength,” Indianapolis Star, June 27, 2010

Watt Grade, Susan: “Oranje Profile: Nancy Lee,” Sept. 15, 2009

Winslow, Ethel: First Friday Full of ‘Firsts’,” Weekly View, Mar. 13, 2009

Gilmer, Susan: “BOI Clients Moving Forward,” Small Biz Insights, Jan. 2009

Publications

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Making Metal Jewelry, Nancy Lee, Alpha Books, 2013

30-Minute Bracelets: 60 Quick & Creative Projects for Jewelers, Marthe Le Van, Lark Crafts, 2012, pp. 34-35.

Teaching/Speaking

2017, Girl Scout Troup Instructor, Jewelry Making Badge, Indianapolis, IN

2017, BeadFest Metal Jewelry Instructor, Santa Fe, NM

2014, “So, You Want to Set Up a Studio?”, Indianapolis Art Center Workshop, IN

2014, “Intricate Sawn Earrings,” Indianapolis Art Center Workshop, IN

2014, “Recalibrate Expectations, Rekindle Your Career,” Business & Professional Exchange, IN

2014, Indy Chamber Monumental Awards Presenter for Public Art, JW Marriott, IN

2013, Book Launch and Live Demo for The Complete Idiots Guide to Making Metal Jewelry, Indy Reads Books, Indianapolis, IN

2012, “Fabricate Elaborate,” Indianapolis Art Center Workshop, IN

2012, “Teapots Workshop,” Instructor Assistant to John Cogswell, Arrowmont School, TN

2012, Pattern Group Presentation, The Speak Easy, IN

Awards/Grants/Residencies

2017, Honorable Mention, Eric Sharp Gateway Poetry Award, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN

2016, Individual Artists Award, Indiana Arts Commission

2013, Instructors Assistant, Teapot Fabrication Workshop, Arrowmont School, TN

2011, Individual Artist Award, Indiana Arts Commission

2010, First Place, Jewelry, Professional Fine Arts, IN State Fair

2009, Studio Assistantship, (Five-week residency) Arrowmont School, TN

2009, First Place Sculpture, Professional Fine Arts, IN State Fair

2009, Second Place, Objects, Professional Fine Arts, IN State Fair

Memberships/Volunteer

2014-Present, Founder and President: Indy Metalsmith Guild

2016-Volunteer, Indianapolis Artists and Dealers Association (IDADA)

2014-15, President: Indianapolis Artist and Dealers Association (IDADA)

2012-13, Vice President, IDADA

2011-2012, Secretary, IDADA

2000-Present, Member, Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG)

1998-Present, Artist Member, Indianapolis Art Center

2008, Winners Walk Tall, Indianapolis Public Schools Program Volunteer

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MORE ABOUT THIS ARTIST

Artist Style: Literary : Non-Fiction , Poetry ; Visual : Abstract , Conceptual , Contemporary , Decorative/Ornamental , Dream Imagery/Ethereal , Environmental , Ethnic , Functional , Impressionistic , Nature/Wildlife

Artist Medium: Visual Arts : Mixed Media , Wood ; silver, gold, copper, brass, found objects, enamel on copper

More Info

About My Work:

I bring dreams to life in metal. My goals is to inspire viewers to invent their own meaning when viewing my work, which is expressed in exquisite detail in jewelry or informed by gestures and landscapes in enameled paintings.

Jewelry includes alternative wedding and engagement rings and a retail jewelry line, shown in my gallery space or available on my website. Paintings are kiln-fired vitreous enamel on copper substrates. Vitreous enamel is colored, powdered glass and my preferred way to use it is sifted through a sieve or poured as a liquid onto prepared copper. Whether jewelry or 2D work, ancient metalworking techniques are applied to old, new, and recycled materials with a modern twist.

I aim to employ responsible studio practices and use recycled materials in my work as much as possible as well as safe disposal of used materials and chemical.

Pricing Information:

Jewelry: Prices range from $40 – $3,000, with most works available in the $50-$500 range
Custom Jewelry prices in silver, karat gold, and gemstones range from $250 – $4,000
Enameled paintings: Prints range from $100 – $500
Copper Sculpture: $300 – $1000
Limited private instruction starting at $60 an hour
Gift Certificates: Available in any denomination

Education:

I’ve received no formal art education. Key jewelry making, metalsmithing and design techniques were learned in workshops taught by instructors Michael David Sturlin, John Cogswell (also, his book), Juan Carolos Caballero-Perez, Angela Bubash and Marilyn Smith. Enameling has been learned from Jan Harrell and Jessica Calderwood and Linda Darty’s excellent book, The Art of Enameling: Techniques, Projects, and Inspiration.

Affiliations:

Founder, Indy Metalsmith; Past President, Indianapolis Downtown Artist & Dealers Association (IDADA); Member, Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG); Past Faculty Member, Indianapolis Art Center

Awards:

Rebecca Pitts Award for Fiction Writing, 2020
Marianne Hedges Poetry Prize, 2019
Eric Sharp Gateway Poetry Award, Honorable Mention, 2018
Indiana Artisan Program Designation, Jewelry
Indiana Arts Commission Individual Artist Grant, 2010-11, 2016-17
First Place, Indiana State Fair, Jewelry, Professional Division, 2010
First Place, Indiana State Fair, Sculpture, Professional Division, 2009 and 2011