Inspired by the natural world around her, the work of Pennsylvania-based metalsmith Heather Stief is a study in the contrast of light and dark. She is fascinated by the transition of day to night, and the subtle changes that occur. To form her jewelry collection, she incorporates sterling silver, gemstones and other found objects into shapes found in nature to create original works of wearable art with a fresh and modern perspective.
In her work, Stief strives to create a balance between hard and soft, modern and organic, contemporary and traditional. To emphasize that contrast, she often incorporates alternative materials such as rubber and found objects into her work. Stief's body of work endeavors to maintain an organic quality while still feeling modern, and aims to not simply mimic nature, but to interpret and celebrate it.
Stief's passion for jewelry design began in college where she attended Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and was exposed to all facets of a career in Fine Craft. During this time Stief received training in traditional metalsmithing fabrication techniques, and took several workshops to expand her skill set. After graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a minor in Crafts in 2007, she launched Heather Stief Jewelry. In 2013 she began exhibiting her work and was a selected participant in the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen's EMERGE program for emerging artists. Stief was juried in to the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen as a Master Artisan in 2015 and was awarded the Benchmark Award for Unique Voice in 2016. Stief works out of her Mount Joy, Pennsylvania studio and currently exhibits her work at fine craft fairs along the east coast.
EDUCATION
2003–2007
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Fine Arts, minor in Crafts
GPA 3.98, Summa Cum Laude
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2011–Present Owner; Heather Stief Jewelry
EXHIBITIONS
2014 Adoring You; Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Juried
2013 In Bloom; Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Juried
2010 AIGA TennShow; Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, Tennessee, Juried
2007 Senior Fine Art Exhibition; Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
2006 Wilkum Exhibition; Eckhaus Gallery; Kuztown, Pennsylvania, Juried
2003 Spring Fiber & Textile Show; Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Juried
2003 Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition; Lancaster Museum of Art , Juried
JURIED CRAFT SHOWS
2017 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts; State College, Pennsylvania (Invited)
2017 Craft + Design Show; Richmond, Virginia
2017 Crafts Alliance Show at Chautauqua; Chautauqua, New York
2017 Spring Crafts at Lyndhurst; Tarrytown, New York
2017 Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2017 Spring Craft Morristown; Morristown, New Jersey
2017 Downingtown Fine Arts Festival; Downingtown, Pennsylvania
2016 American Craft Council Show; Baltimore, Maryland
2016 Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2016 Long's Park Art & Craft Festival; Lancaster, Pennsylvania
2016 Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show; Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania
2016 Spring Crafts at Lyndhurst; Tarrytown, New York
2016 Arts Festival Reading; Goggleworks Center for the Arts; Reading, Pennsylvania
2016 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts; State College, Pennsylvania
2015 Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2015 Long's Park Art & Craft Festival; Lancaster, Pennsylvania
2015 Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show; Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania
2015 Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2015 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts; State College, Pennsylvania
2015 Craft Westport; Westport, Connecticut
2015 Morristown CraftMarket; Morristown, New Jersey
2015 Bucks County Guild Fine Craft Fair; Doylestown, Pennsylvania
2015 Crafts at Purchase; Purchase, New York
2015 Lancaster Made Arts Market; Lancaster, Pennsylvania
2015 Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair; Lancaster, Pennsylvania
2015 Craft Morristown; Morristown, New Jersey
2015 Arts Festival Reading; Goggleworks Center for the Arts; Reading, Pennsylvania
2015 Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair; Wilmington, Delaware
2015 Art Star Craft Bazaar; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2015 Indiemade Craft Market; Allentown, Pennsylvania
2014 Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair; Wilmington, Delaware
2014 MakersFest Fine Craft Fair; Lancaster, Pennsylvania
2014 Arts Festival Reading; Goggleworks Center for the Arts; Reading, Pennsylvania
2014 Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair; Lancaster, Pennsylvania
2014 Indiemade Craft Market; Allentown, Pennsylvania
2014 Manayunk Arts Festival; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2014 Media Fine Art and Craft Festival; Media, Pennsylvania
2014 Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2013 New Hope Arts & Crafts Festival; New Hope, Pennsylvania
2013 Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2013 Arts on the Avenue; West Reading, Pennsylvania
2013 Indiemade Craft Show; Allentown, Pennsylvania
2013 YorkFest Arts Festival; York, Pennsylvania
teaching EXPERIENCE
2016–Present Center for American Craft, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Introduction to Metalsmithing Workshops
Stone-setting Workshops
related education
2017 Penland School of Crafts; Hand Engraving Workshop
2014 Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts; Metalsmithing and Silversmithing Workshops
2012 Goggleworks Center for the Arts; Metalsmithing and Silversmithing Workshops
AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
2017 Invited Artist; Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
2016 Benchmark Award for Unique Voice; Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen
2015 Juried to Master Artisan; Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen
2015 Second Place in Booth Design; Arts Festival Reading
2015 Emerging Artist; Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show
2013 Selected Participant; Pennsylvania Guild's EMERGE program for Emerging Artists
2003-07 Recipient; Board of Governors Scholarship
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen
Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG)
Ethical Metalsmiths
American Craft Council
