Sonya Ooten is a Los-Angeles-based jewelry artist working in precious metals, textiles, gemstones and pearls. Favoring techniques not typically used in designer jewelry, Sonya crochets, weaves and wraps gemstones in unique ways to create jewelry that is immediately recognizable as Sonya Ooten. Drawing on both her Native American and European heritage, Sonya forms tiny sculptures to adorn the bod
y. The repetitive processes required to create such pieces are meditative and calming and imbue the work with a a certain sense of soulfulness. Beginning in the mid-1990s, Sonya's jewelry sold to fine retailers such as Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney's Japan, Harvey Nichols, Sundance Catalog and Stanley Korshak among others. Seeking to transform raw materials into something beautiful, unique and wearable, the iconic "slice" necklace was created by combining large, faceted gemstones and ultra-fine gold chain in a way that was fresh and new. The pieces were soon featured in top fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Town & Country, Cosmopolitan, In Style and more. . . From her childhood in the Pacific Northwest to the jewelry studios at Dartmouth College and Santa Fe -Sonya has continued to follow and expand the ever-evolving vision of her jewelry. After an extended hiatus to raise her 3 children, Sonya is now ready to re-interpret her work by updating classics and creating new designs that are unique and timeless in the jewelry category.
