Katia Olivova Creates Something Wild

  Katia Olivova is one of nine jewelry artists selected to participate in Facere Jewelry Art Gallery's Something Wild This Way Comes exhibition. On view until August 7, these stunning sculptural earrings belong to a suite of jewels inspired by the wildness of sea flora.

Katia Olivova Has Glass in Her Veins

You could say that Katia Olivova emerged with glass in her veins. She represents the third generation of Czech glass art masters. Many consider her grandfather, Ladislav Oliva, Sr., the father of contemporary Czech glass design. He earned tenure at the Schools of Glassmaking in both Zelezny Brod and Kamenicky Senov. Katia's father, Ladislav Oliva, Jr., also studied glassmaking in Prague. He went on to build his own studio with his brother. Their reproductions and original works emulated the Gothic period. In the mid-1990s, he and his wife opened their own studio. They created an original line of handmade glass mosaics. They also sculpt with glass and make cast glass jewelry. All of their children either work with glass or study the art of design. Katia is the only one of them who has moved to the U.S. She moved with her American husband to Wisconsin (and later Alaska), after they completed their schooling at her grandfather's alma maters.

Jewels by Katia Olivova and Steve Pflipsen

Together, Katia Olivova and her husband Steve Pflipsen create beautiful jewels, sculptures, and vessels in their studio in Sitka, Alaska. To create her jewelry, Katia uses an original soldering technique she developed after considerable experimentation. Each piece begins with a sketch. Next she outlines her drawing with sterling silver wire and copper components. She then drags solder across the piece to fill in the negative spaces. Finally, each piece is oxidized, colored, and sealed with jeweler's paint. Her necklaces are strung on round black leather cord. The earrings are hung on sterling silver posts with sterling backs or on argentium sterling silver ear-wires (less copper than standard sterling). Many of her pieces incorporate glass pieces often made by her father, semiprecious stones, and mixed metals. All the solder is 100% lead-free. Katia Olivova draws inspiration from her collaborative lifestyle, from the wildness of Alaska, and from her lifelong passion for design and art. You won't want to miss seeing Katia Olivova's exquisite, wild designs this month at Facere Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle. Visit Facere's website for more information.