Abigail Connell
Artist’s Bio
Trained as a goldsmith 35 years ago in New York City, Abigail Connell initially worked solely in high-karat gold and silver.
As times passed, Abigail grew tired of being a starving artist with an unpredictable income, and increasingly uncomfortable with the ethical and financial problems posed by the making of high-end jewelry. She switched gears and for many years worked as a journalist, writer and editor, continuing to make jewelry on the side.
Returning full-time to jewelry-making around ten years ago, Abigail shifted her focus to the use of mostly non-traditional materials, such as resin, polymer, found organic materials, paper, concrete, plastic and rubber. She is presently engaged in the study of the ancient art of urushi (Japanese lacquer).
Abigail loves the juxtaposition of traditional and non-traditional in unexpected combinations — placing rubies with plastic, for instance, or pearls with rubber, or 23 karat gold leaf with resin, dried grass, seaweed, dirt. She enjoys the element of surprise and playfulness this contrast creates.
Abigail lives in the countryside a few hours from Toronto and gets a lot of design inspiration from her two cats and her apple trees.