
Historic treasures unveiled in contemporary design
An exciting and globally orientated life defines this 21st century artist. Born
in New York into a creative family and then raised in London and The
Netherlands, it did not take Bibi van der Velden long to choose a life
passionately dedicated to fine arts. Through her mother, accomplished sculptor
Michèle Deiters, Bibi at a young age became acquainted with the world of art;
her earliest childhood memories are those of freshly cut stone and so she came
in touch with that which makes her tick.
During the period between 1998 and 2005 she focused on the craft of
sculpting, first at the Florence Academy of Arts (1998), the Gerrit Rietveld
Academy in Amsterdam (1999) and finally at the Royal Academy of Arts in The
Hague (2000-2005). Simultaneously she enrolled in night classes taught at a
Schoonhoven related institute in Amsterdam. Her choices were never
coincidental, they illustrate her wish to combine historical techniques and
materials with her innovative visions, perseverance, talent and creativity.
In 2006 Bibi van der Velden first launched her creations under the name Bibi
van der Velden, Wearable Works of Art. This jewelry line consists of unique
pieces made of precious stones and antique artifacts manufactured into
contemporary jewelry. Because of her upbringing, Bibi van der Velden has a
strong urge to include different cultural artifacts into her creations.
Materials such as Chinese jade, historic Italian coral and even mammoth ivory
found on the Russian tundra’s, are brought to life again in the wearable masterpieces.
Her jewelry has been shown at luxury exhibitions in London, Paris, Tokyo and
Los Angeles and during stirring fashion shows at Amsterdam International
Fashion Week. The creations have made their way all over the world and are sold
at exclusive high end stores such as Dover Street Market in London, L’Eclaireur
in Paris, Estanation in Tokyo and Luisa via Roma in Florence.