Quentin Spetifore
he/him
Kelowna, BC, Canada
I have always loved design in its many forms. From an early age I was drawn to and started collecting jewellery. In 2014 I embarked on a two and a half year journey at Vancouver Metal Art School. There, I studied under Gerold Mueller, a master goldsmith from Germany, learning the traditional techniques to hand craft jewellery. While I have had many different careers, designing and making jewellery is definitely the most fulfilling.
“Working out of my home studio in the Okanagan all of my pieces are my own design. I am particularly interested in shapes and textures. I draw a lot of inspiration from both minimalist and brutalist design.
Everything is either formed by hand from sheet metal or hand carved in wax and then cast. Most designs are one of a kind. When I do replicate a design, either through the use of different stones or small modifications, no two pieces are ever exactly the same.
Wearing jewellery, or any form of ornamentation, is deeply personal. It can be imbued with a particular emotion, symbolism or statement. My desire is for those who choose to wear my jewellery to truly form their own connection to it, and hopefully pass it on to future generations.”
How does your work relate to the theme of flourish(ing)?
“The ring I'm submitting represents contrasts, small ring size yet big impact, closed and open space, serious and whimsical. For me, embracing contrasts and melding them allows me to flourish in life."
NYCJW24 @ UrbanGlass, Francely Flores
"HELL BENT", "Champlevé enamel on oxidized copper, brass findings, silver rivets, 4.5” x 3.5”, 2024"How does your creative practice allow you to flourish (grow, thrive, blossom)?
“I've come to a point in my life where I actively seek my authentic self and consciously try to be true to it. With my jewellery, I don't overthink it from my ego mind. Rather, sort of like a meditation, I wait to see what inspiration will show up for me. That curiosity and trust in creative energy is where I feel I flourish.”
NYCJW24 @ UrbanGlass, Francely Flores
As a queer+ artist, what would you like to see and/or what do you need in order to flourish during this time?
“In designing and making my jewellery I do not focus on something being masculine or feminine. Wearing a piece of jewellery can make you feel a certain way. Just as every human being is unique I like to think my pieces are too.”
“I would like to recognize the life force that every one of us has in common. From that perspective, by loving & honouring others we love & honour ourselves. By helping others flourish we help others flourish. Idealistic perhaps, but worth striving for I feel.”
Anything else you would like to share about this work? This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
NYCJW24 @ UrbanGlass, Simon Leung
[queerphoria]v4 @ ECU Symposium
