Lucia Antonelli’s uniquely luscious, beaded jewelry exudes abundance and sensuality, reflecting the artist and her passion. “I’m in love with the process. I have a very emotional connection with all the materials I work with. My work keeps me grounded. I have to do it. It’s my meditation.”

Antonelli’s materials are fine and rare. The minute French metal beads that are Antonelli’s trademark are taken from handbags, dresses and shoes from the early part of the last century. (She only takes beads from bags and things already beyond repair.) To these she adds other exotic beads, some centuries old and from around the world. Drawers filled with beads and amulets fill her studio. They are like pigments in a painter’s box. The possibilities are endless. 

A signature Antonelli necklace will have multiple strands of beads, some braided into others, some twisted together, ropelike. Frequently, these treatments appear in the same piece, accented with trailing tendrils of more beaded strands and bits of carved or antique carnelian, turquoise, coral and amber that add texture and “chunk” to the delicate tangle. Their drape and weight render even greater opulence to the wearer’s experience. 

Many of Antonelli’s works begin with a strong central element that sets a tone or theme for her beaded embellishments. Frequently she fabricates this central piece, using silver and sometimes 18k gold. She might set a stone, commonly an agate or jasper. The metalwork is typically textured and patterned, suggesting something ancient.

Lucia Antonelli was raised in upstate New York. The abundance and drama that characterize her works also characterized her childhood in a home where every nook and cranny was filled with embellishment.  Her family encouraged her creative instincts, allowing her to decorate the house and move the furniture. She later went on to study fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She is a self-taught bead artist.