Gigi Bijou

I grew up in South Bend, IN surrounded by a number of rich influences in life and art.  My mentors and professors at Columbia College, and my life here in Chicago have afforded me immeasurable growth as an artist. My travels abroad have expanded my perspective but above all it is human interaction and the personal connections I’ve made that have primarily fueled my imagination. From the family and friends I see daily, to one-time conversations with the vendors in the markets of Kenya with imaginative creativity or the bravely expressive youth of the Center on Halsted battling homelessness with explosive style, I draw inspiration from it all, and in turn much like my life, I create my work to showcase precision in detail, layers of fun texture and expressive colors that inspire hope.

I like to say that I don’t make jewelry but that I create wearable art. My collection features intricately hand-cut paper meticulously arranged into abstract designs that are applied to various bases and then lacquered for durability.  It’s high-impact expression in feather-weight form. I ultimately hope my work encourages you to feel free to feel different, full of adventure and exploration with YOUR personal expression.