Explore the art of beaded jewelry making in this hands-on workshop designed for all skill levels. Learn the fundamentals of assembling beaded jewelry, including techniques for knotting, finishing, and adding clasps and closures. Create your own unique accessories, such as bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, while experimenting with color, texture, and materials.
The class will also include an open exchange of ideas and inspiration, exploring creative ways to design additional accessories and incorporate mixed media into your work. Come ready to experiment, learn new techniques, and express your personal style!
Meet the Artist
New Jersey native Kilolo Kumanyika is an interdisciplinary artist whose African American and Native American heritage, love of world music, and interest in politics inspire her work. She holds a BA in Graphic Design from Montclair State University, with a focus on art history and architecture. Working across watercolor, ink, printmaking, textile design, beading, jewelry, and pottery, her work ranges from abstract compositions to sculptural forms incorporating found objects and intricate beadwork. Kilolo has exhibited at the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, The Newark Museum of Art, and Pen and Brush, and her work has been featured on the cover of The Original Buckwheat by Tony Award winner reg e. gaines. She also spent 17 years as a figure model and studio assistant to artist Philip Pearlstein. A dedicated advocate for the arts, Kilolo continues to support her community through arts education and wellness programming.