Interview
Michael Opipari
Michael Opipari is a Detroit-based jewelry artist. He attended the Center for Creative Studies and the Savannah College of Art and Design, and has shown his work nationally and internationally. His pieces have appeared in international fashion magazines, been worn at prestigious award ceremonies, and built a notable celebrity following.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I came to jewelry after careers in photography, retail design, and exhibit design, where form, space, and storytelling became second nature. Jewelry offered something more intimate, the chance to make objects that live inside someone’s daily life. Since starting this practice in 2017, I’ve combined traditional metalsmithing with digital modeling and resin fabrication, working toward forms that hold both precision and unpredictability. The pieces are small enough to wear, built to sit close to the body, and reward a second look. My practice keeps changing through experimentation, showing me forms I couldn’t have planned.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My work doesn't comment directly on political or social issues. I care more about what the wearer experiences than what it might say. The significance is dependent upon the wearer. I don't work from a plan, I respond to what the piece is doing and see where it wants to go.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“Every piece starts as a question, not an outcome. I follow ideas and hunches, and let each decision suggest the next. The forms I value most are ones I couldn't have planned. I notice what's happening and go with it, not force it.”
Are there any art world trends are you following?
“I pay attention to what's happening in contemporary jewelry and art, but I don't consciously follow trends. I'm interested in seeing how new materials and technologies expand what's possible without becoming the subject themselves. The work is guided by curiosity rather than fashion.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“I choose whatever process best serves the piece, moving between digital visualization, 3D printing, and traditional casting and hand-finishing. No single technique defines the work.”
What does your art mean to you?
“Making art isn't how I express an experience. It is the experience. When it works, someone else can look at the piece and feel something true for them, even if it's not the same thing I felt making it.”
What’s your favourite artwork and why?
“Frank Gehry. I think architecture might be one of the most complete art forms there is, because you don't just look at it, you live inside it. Gehry's buildings change as you move through them. I feel the same about jewelry. You don't just look at it, you wear it. It moves with the body, becomes part of daily life, and means something different to whoever's wearing it.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Yes, my most recent exhibitions include: Adorned Spaces: Brutal Grace – SNAG Conference, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan (2026); ALL IN – Studio WearHouse, presented during Munich Jewellery Week, Munich, Germany (2026) and Lifelong Threads – Maus Haus at Color | Ink Studio, Hazel Park, Michigan (2025). My work has also been selected for placement at the Grammy Awards, The Met Gala, and presented in Vogue, Vogue China.”
Website: opiparijewelry.com
Instagram: @michaelopipari
