Michelle McCarty was born in Voorhees, New Jersey in 1973. She was raised in Atco and now resides in Shamong. She knew she was an artist by the age of 14, drawing at every opportunity she could. Michelle studied under local artist from Indian Mills throughout high school, Marge McCarty, who was also her Aunt. She studied drawing, oil painting, water color and pastels. Michelle went on to The University of the Arts in Center City Philadelphia with the intent on studying graphic design. Once she took the Intro to Jewelry Making as an elective and a sculpture class she realized she was more of a three-dimensional craftsperson. She graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Art in Craft with a Specialization in Metals.
Not long after graduation she put her jewelry making on hold to get married and have a family. She has a career of 19 years with a large telecommunication company, while continuing to make only a few pieces a year commissioned by friends and family. Now that her daughter is in college and her son is not far behind, Michelle has resumed her passion for making jewelry on a larger scale. Her focus now is on both one of a kind and limited reproductions of original designs.
You will notice that her jewelry pieces are made of precious metals, precious and semi-precious stones. She describes her work as simplistic, elegant, and dramatic.
