About

Introduced to the art of jewelry and metalsmithing by her grandmother, Heidi Hess has grown to adore the art for life.

Knowing that body adornment would always be part of her, it was only natural for her to obtain a BFA in Metals Art from the University of Washington in Seattle. At UW she was under the tutelage of Professor and accomplished artisan, Mary Lee Hu. At the University, Hess focused her work on various metals techniques, tool and knife making, the history of body adornment, and small sculpture. As well as pursuing a BA minor in Dance. Through this unique combination she developed an interest in human anatomy in motion as wearable art. Hess moved to Washington, D.C in 2006 and became the School Administrator and Instructor at Creative Metalworks School of Design. She has shown works at Jacob Lawrence Gallery in Seattle, WA as well as instructed at the University of Washington and Capital Hill Arts Workshop in Washington DC. Her most recent accomplishment was as owner and principal designer of POPPY in Georgetown, DC. Currently Hess is fully concentrated on her own jewelry design and private commissions.

Storytelling, legacy, and personal myth inform Hess’s intuitive creative approach. Working with silver, 14 to 24 karat gold, found objects, and natural unfinished stones, she uses ancient and experimental techniques to create jewelry that bears witness to her clients’ life stories. Hess possesses a passion and curiosity for distilling life stories into a visual narrative in metal and stones. “The materials and the clients that I work with inspire me to create stories that evolve the piece as a whole, and reflect the personal history of the wearer. People love holding stories that define them close to them and also love sharing those stories. My pieces are symbols for this storytelling.”