Diana Vincent

Diana Vincent (born 1958 in Trenton, New Jersey) is an American jewelry designer and businesswoman.[1]

Biography

Vincent is the niece of American fashion designer James Galanos, whose shows are credited with inspiring her to pursue a design career.[1] In 1976, she attended Temple University's Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia to study metalsmithing and jewelry design with Stanley Lechtzin.[2][3] She studied at Tyler's Rome campus for a year and graduated in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in fine arts.[2] Before deciding to focus on jewelry design, Vincent had explored oil painting, home dressmaking, and pottery.[3]

Jewelry

In 1984, Vincent and her husband Vincent Polisano opened Diana Vincent Inc. in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.[2] That same year, Vincent received a Best New Designer of the Year award from the Jewelers of America,[1] along with the President's Award for Merchandising and Display,[4] and became the youngest person (at 26) to win the bi-annual De Beers Diamonds International Award.[1][3][5] She won the De Beers award again in Milan in 1986, the only American jeweller to have done so consecutively.[3][5] Other awards Vincent has received include the DeBeers Diamond Today Award (1985, 1987, and 1999); the International Pearl Design Award (Tokyo 1988); and the DeBeers Diamond of Distinction Award (1989).[4] In 1998 she won a Platinum Passion Design Competition Award from the Platinum Guild International.[4]

Vincent describes her work as "feminine", "contemporary" and being "simple, fluid and sensual".[1] The influence of the performing arts and dance has been identified in her work.[3]

Her work is held in the permanent museum collection of the Gemological Institute of America.[6] She has also exhibited at the National Ornamental Metal Museum (1997) and the Kent State Art Museum (1998).[6]

Described as one of Philadelphia's top 5 fashion artisans,[7] Vincent's jewelry designs have been seen on the red carpet at the Oscars and featured in various fashion publications including Vogue, InStyle, Town & Country, and Modern Bride.[8]

In 2003 Diana Vincent participated in the "Miles of Mules" charity fundraising project where fibreglass mules were placed around the Lehigh Valley area.[9] Her mule, "Jewels",[1] was displayed outside the James A. Michener Art Museum to raise funds for breast cancer awareness.[6][10] She has also designed exclusive jewelry for charity purposes, such as a brooch to be sold to benefit the breast cancer facility at Bucks County.[11]

Professional affiliations

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Bucks County Artists: Diana Vincent". James A. Michener Art Museum. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Bucks County Artists: Diana Vincent - Education & Community". James A. Michener Art Museum. Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e Cindy Edelstein & Frank Stankus (2008). Brilliance! : masterpieces from the American Jewelry Design Council (1st ed.). New York: Lark Books. p. 220. ISBN 9781600591570.
  4. ^ a b c "Bucks County Artists: Diana Vincent - Awards & Appointments". James A. Michener Art Museum. Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Diana Vincent biography". American Jewelry Design Council. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  6. ^ a b c "Bucks County Artists: Diana Vincent - Exhibitions". James A. Michener Art Museum. Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  7. ^ Prichard Manko, Marni. "Philadelphia's Top 5 Fashion Artisans - The Jeweler - Diana Vincent". Philadelphia Style Magazine. Retrieved 20 November 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ "Bucks County Artists: Diana Vincent - Career". James A. Michener Art Museum. Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  9. ^ Santor, Michelle (15 July 2003). "Miles for Mules places life-size mules around town". Muhlenberg Weekly. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  10. ^ "Miles of Mules: About the Artists". James A. Michener Art Museum. Archived from the original on April 13, 2003. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  11. ^ McClintock, Jill (October–November 2009). "Healing Through Elegant Design". Bucks County Woman. pp. 21–23. Retrieved 20 November 2012.