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Laura Kanter

Born in the State of Bahia, Laura Kanter spent part of her childhood in California and now lives once more in Brazil. From her childhood, she loved jewelry and at 15 she began designing and making costume jewelry. Despite her artistic vein, she studied engineering, which became very helpful in bridging the gap between design and the jewelry making process.

Over the years, she specialized in jewelry design, gemology, wax modeling, fashion marketing and collections development. She established her own studio where she develops collections for important jewelers in Brazil and Switzerland.

"My aim is expressing in my creations our feelings, personality, style and wishes," she says. And so in 2004, she designed, produced and launched a sterling silver jewelry collection comprised of four themes called Metal Fusion, Sensual Elixir, Acqua Sign and Melting Gems.

"Before designing a collection, I create the muse," Kanter confides. As a designer, I express myself so as to influence and be influenced by the feminine world. Through jewelry, I speak about the styles, moods and ways of being a woman in modern times. I disassociate from my personal jewelry taste and get involved in the world of a character. And for her, I design the collection.

"As a child, I was a storyteller. I still tell stories, but now through my designs. Jewelry can express many things – power, wealth, social position, protection, style, tribe, belonging and much more. A necklace, for example, can tell a lot about the relationship between the person who gave it and the person who wears it.

"I have a great interest in the evolution of societies, and believe that in order to understand them we must know how their relationships between their men and women are. I feel I can easily understand and relate to the male world, perhaps because I have two brothers and also for having studied in predominantly male schools – electronics and electrical engineering. I can't help but be amused by the dichotomy of female and male energies.

"Sometimes I try to express the sensation a woman searches for in a partner. The sensuality of a conquest, the seduction. Other times, the woman wants to feel the essence of her professional and personal achievements when wearing a piece of jewelry. Modern woman has transgressed the old ways by taking a hold of her own survival. Sometimes she buys her own jewelry, so it must express audacity and transgression. Because of the need to express such feelings through jewelry, women value the designer's work. And jewelry can express much more – simplicity, extravagance, technology, mood, seduction and finesse. After all, there are so many ways of being a woman.…

"The logical thinking and practicality I acquired in engineering, plus the years of experience in jewelry design are both keys to the fantastic side of my soul. I usually value what most people don't give any importance to. Many original materials are selected this way. Because it is easy for me to synthesize, I'm always in search of solutions, which stresses me out a little bit.

"I worry about humanity and lose my balance when I stop believing in it. How are we treating our children, the least fortunate, and the differences between human beings? Whatever these differences are, we need to be more tolerant! I would like to do something to change the fate of the many women who are oppressed, humiliated, poorly treated, and who suffer physical violence, all over the world. Sometimes I think I could touch this subject with jewelry. But I'm not quite sure as to how. Yet.

"Every artist wants to express her or himself. And these are the questions I bring with my soul.

"Swimming in the ocean – actually playing with the waves – makes me relax and create at the same time. Because my sun sign element is the earth, I need a lot of contact with water. 'To allow sculpting, the clay must be humid.' I heard this statement from a therapist when I told her about my almost emotional need to have contact with the ocean.

"In dancing, I get more flexible and get in contact with my feminine universe. It's a great way to perceive the other.

And of course I am renewed by love. Without it, nothing is possible." Kanter's numerous awards in international competitions include first place in the Achievements in Inventiveness Award (Switzerland, 2002). In addition, she was among the 25 finalists of the American Facet Award (New York, 2002).