Intoxicated by Triian’s classy but muted psychedelic jewelry, women swarmed the table like a gang of hungry bees at Tuesday night’s trunk show at Lester’s. Most everyone walked out wearing a sparkling necklace created by Brian Burkhardt and Trisha Brookbank. The two sculptors are not only a jewelry making team, they’re married and new parents to a beautiful baby boy.
While recruiting for the Museum School in Boston in 2007, Burkhardt found himself at the Art Center South Florida on Lincoln Road where his future wife had a studio. When he saw her art, he said to himself, “Who does this amazing work?” She wasn’t there that day, but on the next, they hit it off. She reflected, “I’m not an open person who would just talk to anybody,” but she was charmed. A month later, he packed his bags and moved to South Florida.
About two years later, they started collaborating. They wanted to do something that Burkhardt said, “can be accessible to everybody.” What makes them different is, “We stared approaching jewelry from a sculptural perspective.”
Three weeks after they began creating their wares, the two received a huge 300 piece order for the final show of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami. According to Burkhardt, it’s been “out of control since then.” They’re currently working with Anthropologie, selling Triian’s petite meteorite necklaces in every one of the stories in the U.S. and Canada.
All the creations are one of a kind pieces. They begin with a form that they either sculpt themselves or which are from nature, make a mold and then cut from it. So each is an individual work of art, modified by hand.Then they add the Swarovki crystals, and the matte pieces start to sparkle.
Of the work, Brookbank said, “Every single piece is totally unique.” Her husband noted, “We’re trying to make futuristic gemstones.”
The new mom told us what was up for the future, “We love art and design and we want to be able to apply that in lots of different settings,” It’s probably safe to expect super-futuristic shoes or chandeliers. Whatever it is, it’s certain to be an eye-catcher.
