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There is something special about an item that has been handcrafted, it possesses an energy that does not exist in a product that has been mass produced. Handcrafted items are personal and the attention the aritst gives each piece becomes part of its' character with an essence that can be felt and appreciated by those who admire it.
I believe we should surround ourselves with beautiful things, things that make us feel good and bring us some sense of joy and I don't believe we should have to pay a fortune in order to do that. So my mission as a designer is to make creative design affordable without sacrificing quality. My contemporary style is a reflection of my respect for simple, clean lines and being a minimalist by nature I stay true to the philosophy that less is more.
I’ve been designing and creating for as long as I can remember in fact, it is my passion. After earning my BA Degree in Art and Design, I began my career designing displays for Neiman Marcus where for over 14 years I had the privilege of working with the worlds most exquisite merchandise. Working for Neimans fueled my appreciation for fine quality, the unique and unusual and for handcrafted workmanship. My creative freedom with them allowed my artistic talents to evolve and eventually they lead me into an entirely new direction, working with metal.
Using tools that my grandfather designed in the 1930's, each piece is handcrafted in my Chicago area studio. Besides the occasional use of my trusty power drills all the tools I use to cut, form and shape the metal are powered by hand, so the main energy source used in creating each piece is me. As an artist I love working with metal. It's practically indestructible yet totally recyclable. I work with stainless steel, aluminum, copper and brass. Nothing goes to waste or ends up in a landfill. I use recycled materials for packaging and shipping as well, doing what I can to help preserve our natural resources. I love designing things that have yet to be seen and enjoy the challenge of putting a new twist on an old concept, making it fresh and new again. I receive such joy creating each and every piece. I hope that joy is reflected through my work. Patricia Zilinsky |