Ben Cohen Jewelry
Kitbash Senior Thesis
Winner, First Prize in Recognition of Exceptional Work
Pratt Institute Schafler Gallery 2019
Early Inspiration
Growing up I always marveled at the silver objects made by my grandfather. Although silversmithing was not his profession, the passion he had for making these objects inspired me from a young age to make things as well. I spent many hours building models from kits and re-designing them with clay, wax, wood, anything I could use to mold them so that I could shape them into my own creation. My passion specifically for metal work ignited when I was in high school, and it was then that I knew I wanted to pursue a career in art and design. As I attended high school in New York City, I had the opportunity to spend my free time in the Diamond District, meeting jewelers and eventually working for a small custom jewelry company. These experiences fueled my passion for jewelry. My New York explorations of jewelry exhibits in galleries and museums inspired me to refine my technique and encouraged me to attend Pratt Institute to study Jewelry.
Senior Thesis
My childhood model plane and car building interests were the genesis for my current collection, entitled Kitbash. Kitbashing is a term used by model makers; it is the practice of taking parts from commercially available model kits and using them to create something entirely different, similar to sampling in the music industry. The title Kitbash seems appropriate, as I am combining jewelry with model kits. Each piece has been designed to be worn in its original form in the sprue framework, or if the wearer prefers, the piece can be transformed into a more conventional form of jewelry. By breaking out the components, the wearer becomes the maker and partners with the designer. The wearer now plays a significant role in determining how the work is presented and takes ownership of the fabrication process, creating a collaborative and symbiotic relationship between artist and consumer.