Jamie Bennett

Jamie Bennett started college as a business major but at the University of Georgia changed to metalsmithing and painting in his senior year. Influenced by metalsmith Robert Ebendorf he pursued graduate studies at the State University of New York, New Paltz earning his MFA in 1974.There he was introduced to enameling which became his specialty. He also taught at Memphis Art Academy and Boston University before taking a job at his alma mater SUNY New Paltz where he remained for 30 years and is now Professor Emeritus.

Bennett is known for his innovations in enameling that have greatly expanded its expressive uses. He has shown at museums around the world including the retrospective exhibition of his work Edge of the Sublime: The Enamels of Jamie Bennett which traveled from 2007 to 2010. He also has received numerous awards for his work as an educator and for his enameling. His work has been collected by museums across the U.S. including the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Los Angeles County Museum of Art as well as institutions in Europe and Asia.