Pavel Opocensky

Czech jeweler Pavel Opocenský started his career at the age of fifteen, during a yearlong apprenticeship in a metal workshop. Because of the government regulations in Czechoslovakia at that time, Opocenský often had to design jewelry covertly, working mainly in wood and brass because of restrictions on access to gold. In 1982, Opocenský immigrated to the United States, taking a job carving ivory and quickly realizing its potential as a medium for jewelry. He turned to sculpting stone, as well as synthetics, in response to political and environmental concerns over the exploitation of ivory. In addition to his jewelry, Opocenský makes larger scale sculptural pieces. He currently lives in the Czech Republic.

Education: 1971-72, School for Jewelry Design, Jablonec, Czechoslovakia; 1973-74, School for Jewelry and Metals, Turnov, Czechoslovakia