From Music to Metalwork
In 1988, I left the USSR and spent the next five years traveling the world as a singer—music was my everything. Then, in 1992, I landed in Israel—a country I knew almost nothing about. By the end of the year, I was an Israeli citizen.
That’s when reality hit me—singing wasn’t going to pay the bills. Also, turns out, making it in music without speaking Hebrew? Not so easy. So, my girlfriend at the time suggested, “Why not try making jewelry?”
Here’s the funny part: I had zero experience in jewelry-making. But that didn’t stop me. I started by piecing together broken bits of metal and wood, whatever I could find. I didn’t know it yet, but I was shaping the future—one experiment at a time.
Then came my first exhibition. Then another. And another. A friend finally told me, "Go study. Take this seriously." So I did.
I went to the Academy of Jewelry, learned to work with gold, silver, and other precious metals, and soon realized—I had never actually stopped being an artist. I just switched from music to metal.
Jewelry That Tells a Story
What started as an experiment became my life’s work. I found that jewelry is not just about beauty; it’s about telling a story—through texture, form, and the contrast between raw and refined materials.
Over time, I developed my own bold, sculptural style, creating one-of-a-kind jewelry for art lovers who want something more than just an accessory. My pieces are meant to be worn, but also to be felt—they carry a meaning, a memory, a little piece of my journey.
Beyond Jewelry: When Metal Became Art
At some point, I wanted to push myself further. Jewelry was intimate, but I wanted to create something bigger—something that could stand alone, tell a story without being worn. That’s how I moved into sculpture.
From crafting custom metalwork for collectors to sculptural installations, my work started gaining recognition. One piece ended up in Miami, another in Jerusalem. But the biggest moment of my career?
A Sculpture for the Pope
Yep, you read that right.
One of my sculptures, "Helping Hand", was commissioned by the Helping Hand Coalition and was later presented to the Pope. The piece is a tribute to Holocaust survivors, featuring a real tattooed number from a survivor.
This wasn’t just another project. It was a responsibility.
For two months, I lived inside this story—watching every documentary, reading every survivor’s testimony. I wanted to do justice to their pain and resilience. And in the process, the sculpture was covered in my own blood and tears.
It wasn’t just an artwork. It became an installation, a message, a reminder.
What’s Next?
Whether it’s handmade artisan jewelry, custom-designed statement pieces, or sculptural artworks, my mission is still the same: to create something meaningful, something that connects people to a story, a feeling, a memory.
I never planned this life. But now, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Want to explore my work? Check the artwork on my website and choose which one speaks to you.
Nikita
