Ayala Naphtali, US

Ayala began making jewelry as an early teen in NYC. She studied Gold and Silversmithing at FIT and SUNY New Paltz where she received her BFA. Ayala was awarded as an Honoree in 2021 & 2022 by NYCxDesign. Ayala’s work has been exhibited privately and in the permanent collection of the Cooper Hewett and Kunsindustriumuseum in Norway, and the Whitehouse Ornament Collection. Ayala has exhibited in major national craft shows such as the American Craft Council Exposition on Baltimore, SOFA, Cherry Creek Arts Festival, and numerous others annually. Selected publications include the American Craft Magazine, Elle, The Fashions of the Times, The New York Times, Mademoiselle, Women’s Wear Daily, Glamour, New Woman Magazine, and the New York Post. Ayala has been a juror for the American Craft Council Shows.

This piece is born from my compulsion to repurpose and reclaim discarded materials. As I traverse the streets of Brooklyn on my way to work, I encounter piles of neglected treasures. In my mind, a game unfolds. How long shall I grant myself to store these materials in my studio, awaiting the perfect project? Will it be a year, two, or perhaps a decade?  What if I never use them and just look at them for inspiration, is that OK?  The dialog is for me alone, until I share it in a finished piece.