Collection: Lori Francescutti

THE ARTIST

I fell in love with metalsmithing in the summer of 2018 after a long history of creative expression in other mediums. In 2010, I graduated from the Ontario College of Art & Design with a degree in Drawing and Painting. After travelling extensively, training as a midwife, and returning to Toronto as a single mother, I was yearning to create again. I began experimenting with metal on a whim and have become a self-taught metalsmith.

I am fascinated by the tactility and flexibility of silver and gold. I use a controlled melting process called fusing in many of my pieces, where metal is melted together rather than soldered. Finesse and attention to minute changes in the quality of the metal are required in order not to inadvertently melt the piece. This results in the organic shapes and textures featured in some of my work. After this, I forge the piece to the desired shape and assemble it with other parts to create the finished object. I use 14k, 18k, and 22k gold embellishments in my work, as well as 24k gold foil in an elaborate ancient Korean process called ‘keum boo’. The journey for me is just as gratifying as the finished piece. I work quite a bit with semi-precious stones. The majority of my stones are completely natural (no dyes or treatments) and come directly from lapidaries in the country of the stone’s origin. The quality of my stones is extremely important to me and I choose to purchase only from reliable, trusted sources. These lapidary artisans provide me with the stones that spark the creative inspiration for much of my work.