In her jewelry designs, Florida’s Hannah Long balances bold and delicate while adding keenly observed details and touches.
The artist: Long grew up in St. Louis and studied sculpture at Portland State University. She lived in Atlanta, Detroit and New York before moving to Florida.
In 2014, after taking a metalsmithing class at the Boca Art Museum, Long started making and selling jewelry. The mostly self-taught artist later spent a summer studying more advanced metalsmithing techniques at JewelryClassDC in Washington, DC.
The company/studio: Hannah Long Jewelry is based in Boynton Beach, FL, where the jewelry artist works out of her home studio.
The goods: Hand-fabricated heirloom jewelry, including: cuffs ($125 to $2,500); earrings ($75 to $3,500); necklaces ($125 to $4,500); and rings ($55 to $4,500). Five percent of her business profits go to support women in recovery attain transitional housing.
What’s popular: Sculptural mixed metal cuffs in 18 karat yellow gold (KYG), oxidized sterling, rare hand cut gemstones and diamonds.
Other favorites: The 3-D Cityscape collection, which includes a pendant, earrings and a ring made from 18 KYG, oxidized silver and diamonds. Also turning heirloom gems into new designs.
The materials & process: Ethically sourced silver, gold and gemstones. She also digs for fossils and collects Black coral on beaches near her home.
Long alloys her own gold for ideal color and has created a new proprietary alloy, called HaLo Gold, from base metals that mimic 18 KYG. The metal never tarnishes and is hypoallergenic and affordable.
Mindful work: Long finds cutting and polishing gemstones a meditative and exploratory time.
Newlywed news: Long got married last year and was excited to make her own wedding ring. She finished it six months after the wedding “because my customers’ jewelry comes first.”
Claim to fame: Invited into the 2020 Smithsonian Craft Show (smithsoniancraftshow.org), a goal of many artists.
Awards: First place at Stockley Gardens (VA) Arts Festival.
In 2017, Long had a solo show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami.
What’s next: A line of engagement rings.
Where to buy: www.hannahlongjewelry.com
Get social at: hannahlongjewlery on facebook and Instagram.
