About Nina Zabal

Artist Bio

Cinthya Cuba de Zabal is the artist and designer behind Nina Zabal. She was born in Mexico and moved to Washington, DC in 2001 to attend the Corcoran College of Art + Design. She graduated in 2005 with a BFA in Graphic Design. In 2008 and 2009 she attended the Savannah College of Art Design where she obtained her MA in Jewelry and Metals. During this time she was awarded the SJTA 1st Place in Art Jewelry and the SJTA Best in Show during the Southern Jewelry Travelers Association Annual Student Design Competition in Atlanta, Georgia.

She returned to the jewelry practice in 2017 and since then has participated in the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s Art + Design Show, the American Craft Council’s Baltimore Show, the Smithsonian’s Craft2Wear Show in Washington, DC, CraftBoston’s Studs + Drops Show, and several other local and regional shows and markets in the USA.

Her work is sold in local boutiques, galleries and museums such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Art and Quirk Gallery in Richmond.

Artist Statement
I think of jewelry as transformative objects. While my work is very personal, I am always making for someone else, I have someone in mind, the transformed. My practice is a constant exploration and I like to work in groupings, collections or series. These groupings allow me to make different decisions, consider different uses and bodies. Color and texture are paramount to my work and reflect my graphic design background and my interest in textiles, ceramics and interior design.

My work in the past few years has developed both from hand-cutting already cured slabs of polymer clay or digital cutting the slabs. In any case and every work, color and pattern play a great role and it is the first stop when I create.

Along the way I imagine these pieces being worn. My mind always asks who will wear them, and how.

Every one-of-kind piece is crafted in Richmond, Virginia.

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