"Body adornment is one of the most time enduring and artful forms of self-expression.
Choosing a piece of jewelry is a very personal experience, the chosen piece must
nearly speak to the wearer. My intention when designing a piece is directly connected
to my aesthetic, taste & style. During my design process and metal working there
is a similar intimate exchange between the piece and myself as the designer.
I love the qualities of metal and the process of creating with metal. Ultimately,
I strive for each piece to challenge the senses, achieve a fluidity which I believe
happens by a combination of designing a sculptural form and embellishing the surface
with beautiful finishes and texture. The use of materials other than metal also
receive great consideration, such as; fabric, leather, plastics and stones. I hand
select each stone based on its interest as an object. I try to achieve a harmony
between form, texture and scale which are intended to create pieces that are complicated
yet simple.
Inspiration for my jewelry comes from both organic and architectural forms. My background
in architecture influences the idea of cleanliness of a line in streamlined architectural
forms. Organic and floral motifs are inspired by the Hungarian embroidery of my
childhood. I strive for what is in-between the two positions; contrasting use of
architectural elements with floral and organic patterns." Erika Mihaly Simon
I was born in Budapest, Hungary and moved to Washington DC when I was 13 with my mother who worked for the Hungarian attache.
I grew up travelling throughout Europe and in college studied in Germany and Italy majoring in Art History and Archaeology.
My love for artifacts led me to participate in two archaeological digs in Nigeria.
Since childhood I always dreamed of creating things and went on to study design at Pratt Institute in New York.
For 10 years I worked as an interior architect designing hotels, offices and residential spaces.
Throughout my young adulthood I collected jewelry but did not start designing them until I moved to the Pacific Northwest and had my two children.
My exposure to artifacts and appreciation of different culture's treasures started me on my path of jewelry design.
Misty Metal by Erika Simon was launched in 2011 forming a collection of modern metal jewelry designs.