nina kawar

Using gemstones and fossils, Nina Kawar’s copper electroformed jewelry balances sophistication with raw beauty.

But the North Carolina designer’s jewelry is about more than aesthetics.

Each piece is created with healing and personal transformation in mind.

Artist: Originally from Appleton, WI, Kawar moved to California as a young adult and later began her creative journey at age 27 at San Diego Mesa Community College.”

In 2010, she returned to Wisconsin to pursue a BFA in 3D Design at UW-Oshkosh, where she was drawn to metal casting, welding, clay sculpting and woodworking.

At Clemson University for graduate school, Kawar fell in love with porcelain and earned her MFA in ceramics.

After grad school, Kawar moved to Western North Carolina. She now works from her home studio in Asheville, NC.

Company/studio: Kawar has two bodies of work: her porcelain sculpture work and her jewelry business, Pure Ritual.

Kawar created Pure Ritual in 2018 to support her ceramic practice.

In 2024, she lost her studio of eight years at Marshall High Studios to Hurricane Helene. Luckily, she had left most of her jewelry collection and craft show setup in her car.

“I took this as a sign I was meant to focus my energy on this new collection of work while rebuilding my life and ceramic practice,” said Kawar.

Later, with the help of her landlord, they converted Kawar’s home carport into a studio in February 2026.

“I am now creating these copper adornments in this new space and have since acquired the materials and tools to return to clay,” said Kawar.

Art & materials: Copper electroformed jewelry, including necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets. She often adds rare gemstones and fossils to these handcrafted one-of-a-kind adornments.

Necklaces: $75 to $500.
Rings: $65 to $150.
Bracelets: $40 to $300.
Earrings: $60 to $150.

What’s popular: Copper rings.

“No ring is like another,” said Kawar. “As I say to my customers, it is like Cinderella, you must find the right fit. This includes size, appearance and frequency.”

What is copper electroforming: It is a process in which copper is “formed” onto another material.

In 2025, Kawar began electroforming feathers, plants and fungi.

“The copper is intentional and amplifies the energetic properties of the stones, while having numerous health benefits for the body, mind and soul,” said Kawar.

Process:

Starts out by selecting the gems, minerals and fossils from her collection and configuring them into designs using epoxy and polymer clay.
Once created, she protects the stones or organic materials, paints the design with a conductive paint and suspends them in the acid bath with electricity. This process can take several hours to days in the solution to electroform.
When finished, pieces are cleaned up, patinaed, sanded and sealed.
Necklaces are adorned with a copper chain, copper collar or faux leather cord.

Source of stones & fossils: Kawar has been collecting gems for more than 20 years. However, in the last few years, she has purchased them from gem shows throughout North Carolina and from her brother’s crystal shop, Enter the Earth, in downtown Asheville.

Themes: All Kawar’s creations are grounded in healing.

“Each piece is designed to amplify the energetics of the stones and fossils to assist in transformation and coming home to oneself,” said Kawar.

Tools: Jewelry pliers set, metal files, silicone clay sculpting tools and rectifier.

“My absolute favorite: my hands,” said Kawar.

Inspirations: “Mother Nature is my greatest inspiration,” said Kawar. “The entire natural spectrum, from geology to biology.”

Special commission: A client had a collection of stones and sharks’ teeth that were dear to her.

Kawar created a set of earrings, necklaces, a ring and a bracelet using the client’s precious items and some of the artist’s own stones.

Recent awards/honors:

Adolf & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant. 2026.
Western North Carolina Art & Craft Showcase, NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC. 2026.
ArtsAVL Region 17 Artist Support Grant. 2025.
CERF+ Get Ready Grant. 2025.
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts’ Full Scholarship. 2025.
WNC Craft Futures Cohort Grant: Center for Craft. 2025.
Crafting Resilience Grant Program: Mountain Bizworks. 2025.
Marshall & Margherite McComb Foundation Fellowship: Vermont Studio Center. 2025.
Trillium Arts Residence Grant. 2025.
Southern Highland Craft Guild Member. 2024.

Recent projects:

Begun to merge her porcelain sculptures and the process of copper electroforming in a new series of work called “Embodied Circuit.”
Started lapidary work by cutting and carving her own gemstones and fossils. These stones will be applied to both her jewelry collection and fine art sculptures.

What’s next:

Art in the Park, downtown Asheville, NC. Oct. 3 -10.
Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, Harrah’s Cherokee Center, Asheville, NC. Oct. 15-18.
Piedmont Craftsmen Fair, Benton Convention Center, Winston-Salem, NC. Nov. 20-21.
Teaching a class at John C. Campbell Folk School, “Cold Finishes on Ceramic Sculptures,” Nov. 8-14.

Where to buy: