Alex Thiel Goldsmith
Connecting Generations Legacy
Alex Thiel-Didu is a goldsmith, a designer and a woman with attitude. She began her creative journey in her native Poland and found her creative home in Ireland. Originally, she was a wedding cake decorator, making intricate designs in marzipan and cake toppers, the most unusual being a request for 2 snails.
When Alex moved to Ireland in 2008, she spoke very little English and knew only one person. She arrived in this place of different culture but felt at home trying to find her own path. Alex survived the challenges and found her feet and soul in jewellery. After working with a jeweller in Cork, who became her jewellery mentor, she finally took the plunge and moved to Kilkenny to train as a goldsmith. In her interview for a college place at The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, she sealed the deal with her edible flowers made of marzipan and the metal interpretations of them. Alex graduated with a diploma in Arts from the National University of Ireland, Jewellery and Goldsmithing Skills and Jewellery Design Course.
Following her college and apprenticeships, life drew her back to Cork, which has become her home and business hub. Her self-employment adventure started in 2015, when for a few months she ran a jewellery workshop for one of Cork’s prestigious jewellery shops. Then, after designing a number of pieces of jewellery, which had sentimental value for the client, Alex understood what she could offer to them as a designer. She could help them to remember and to cherish their unique life stories filled both with joy and sorrow. Each story moved Alex and stayed with her and was transformed by her into a special piece of jewellery. For example, making a pendant for a woman from her husband’s wedding ring just a few months after he passed away, or a necklace in the shape of 2 feathers for a young lady who had suffered two miscarriages and wanted to keep memory of her babies alive. There are also happy stories, like making an engagement ring from the gold which earlier belonged to both grandmothers, while incorporating into the design the Greek heritage of the bride-to-be.
Alex Thiel Goldsmith is connecting generations legacy by giving new life to the old jewellery cherished by the clients. She is also re-using old gems and precious metal in the new designs to create fine art and treasured jewellery.
Thiel was shortlisted in two major jewellery competitions in 2017, Royal Dublin Society (RDS) Craft Awards and Irish Made Awards by Irish Country Magazine. She is a member of Cork Craft and Design, The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland and also recently she has joined Benchspace, Cork’s creative co-making space with professional standard.
Recently Alex Thiel Goldsmith had a pleasure to share her story with The Irish Times.
Here you can read the whole article: https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/poland-and-italy-are-wonderful-but-our-lives-are-in-cork-now-1.4330163?fbclid=IwAR34P8Uq-2AZsYNz0vZH2aGZBCov58VKF40BzYOo7XFb-YWIWo3bZ7gVgWQ
To see more of her work please visit https://www.alexthieldesigns.com/portfolio-2/
All of the precious stones, pearls and metals used by Alex Thiel Goldsmith are ethically sourced.
Photo by https://www.instagram.com/caoimhe_heaney_product_studio_/
MUA by https://www.facebook.com/beautybyJustyna and https://www.instagram.com/makeupjustynakierczek/
Exhibitions and Events
Irish Designer Sample Sale, St Peter’s, Cork, April 2018
Showcase Ireland, RDS Dublin, January 2018
RDS Craft Awards Exhibition, Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, August 2017
Adorn – Cork Craft Month, St. Patrick’s Woollen Mills, Cork. August 2017
Showcase Ireland, RDS Dublin, January 2017
Adorn – Cork Craft Month, St. Patrick’s Woollen Mills, Cork. August 2016
Time – a selected Craft Exhibition, Kinsale, Co. Cork. August 2015
Adorn – a selected Craft Exhibition, Midleton, Co. Cork. August 2015
Graduate Exhibition Metal Matters at the National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny 2013
Green Acres Gallery, Wexford 2013
