Ramona Solberg

born Watertown, South Dakota, 1921; died Seattle, Washington, 2005

BiographyRamona Solberg was born in Watertown, South Dakota. She moved to Seattle with her family in 1923. She studied at the University of Washington with Coralyn Pence and Ruth Penington as well as in Mexico. She taught at Central Washington State College (now Central Washington University), and was Associate Professor of Art at the University of Washington from 1956 to 1967.

Solberg was a pioneer in the contemporary jewelry movement, particularly the use of found and ethnic objects acquired during her travels. She is often called "the grandmother of found art jewelry". Solberg often used cast forged and fabricated metals and said of her work, "I don't want my jewelry to go into deposit boxes. I want it worn to Safeway and to ball games." Her work can be found in the collections of the Renwick Gallery and the Museum of Contemporary Art among others.

(Source: Craft in America; Archives of American Art)

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