Donna D’Aquino was born in Newburgh, New York in 1965. She received her BS in Design from The State University College of New York at Buffalo in 1989; and her MFA in Jewelry/Metalsmithing from Kent State University in 1999.
Originally trained in Graphic Design and Jewelry, D’Aquino wanted to be an illustrator. In 1998, while taking a workshop during graduate school, she was handed wire and told to “draw”. This was the beginning of the ongoing body of work consisting of 2 and 3-dimensional linear drawings. These “drawings” manifested themselves in jewelry. They became line drawings and objects both to be worn on the body and displayed as a piece of art on the wall when not being worn.
Inspired by interior and exterior skeletal structures found in architecture, the work consists of a series of objects that reflect an exploration of line, form, volume, movement, structure, geometry, space, light, and shadow.
For the past 5 years, D’Aquino has been exploring the idea of scale and different placement for these pieces. They have grown in size to 5 and 7 feet; functioning both indoor and outdoor.
D’Aquino’s work can be seen in over 25 books and magazines and at many of the finest Galleries representing Art Jewelry internationally. She has won numerous awards and accolades. Her work had been shown nationally and internationally and is held in both public and private collections throughout the US.
She resides in Bethel, Maine, where she maintains a full-time studio.
