ABOUT THE ARTIST

"Gustav Reyes was raised on the southwest side of Chicago. After working long hours as a laborer, Gustav's father would relax by creating jewelry and exposing Gustav to the process of creating art. Gustav remembers the days of watching his father work on the pieces he was moved to create as some of the happiest moments of his childhood.

As a young man, Gustav attended the Art Institute of Chicago, where his horizons and understanding of art were greatly broadened. He learned art as a gift, as a freedom, and as a proud tradition. After his years at the Art Institute, he spent time at the Chicago Bauhaus Academy, where he developed a strong understanding of and appreciation for architecture and the finer aspects of woodworking.

Gustav was working in the shop of a local cabinet-maker, listening for inspiration to hand him his next turn, when his wife asked if he could craft for her a ring made of wood. This simple request sent him on the journey that has come to define his work as an artist. Determined to craft something lasting and elegant, he quickly threw out the idea of drilling or carving into a piece of wood, seeking a method that would result in something beautiful in structure as well as form.

Gustav's early influences can be seen in his work, which originates in the heart and is formed by a strong sense of structure, balanced by a deep understanding of the nature of his materials. On each piece, he works in symbiosis with his materials, allowing their defining characteristics to be the greatest strengths of the work."

ABOUT THE WORK

"Life is breathing through all the materials around us. Even in an urban environment, we are surrounded by organic processes, processes of growth and of decay, of birth, life and of death. These processes shape our existence, and make each moment precious, fleeting, and magnificent. An awareness of this transitory beauty is what drives my work and what I endeavor to capture in each of my creations.

The materials used in my handcrafted jewelry are all reclaimed from a former existence, and bring to the work a history of use and of life. Each piece is created in a way that pays respect to that history, whether the use was mundane or sophisticated, whether I am working with a piece of concrete or wood from a musical instrument, a piece of furniture, or a precious family heirloom."