Biography

Sheridan Conrad became interested in jewelry making at an early age, eventually leading her to enter the undergraduate program in art at the University of Arkansas. Upon obtaining her degree, she began her jewelry career in her home state of Oklahoma. When she was in her mid-twenties, the explosion of the petroleum industry led to a number of nouveau riche, who utilized her skills to create high-end pieces such as diamond oil derricks, race horses, and gold nugget and for famous clients as Bob Hope and Minnie Pearl. She continued her education and obtained her GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certification in diamond grading, colored stones, gemstone identification, counter design and display.

After eight years as a jewelry designer and bench jeweler, the economy took a downward turn and as oil prices plummeted, many banks and businesses in Oklahoma closed, along with the jewelry store that employed her. In the late 1980's, she became a partner in a wholesale jewelry business, where she continued creating custom designs and repairs for a number of local jewelry stores. Once a year, by invitation only, she had a private showing of her latest work.

Sheridan created her own company, A Jeweler’s Art in 1998. She went back to college and earned her Master’s degree in Education and her National Board certification. Sheridan opened a studio/jewelry gallery in the historic Paseo Arts District in Oklahoma City in 2009. She continued to focus on custom work and taught a number of jewelry classes while representing local and national contemporary jewelers.

In the summer of 2017, Sheridan traveled to Italy to study an ancient technique called chasing and repousse. Her creative urges stimulated, upon returning she decided to close her gallery and focus on her own designs, while still teaching a handful of private students.

Her travels to foreign countries have allowed her to cultivate a broad-ranging view of art from different cultures. She has traveled to Sri Lanka to observe sapphire and moonstone mines, Idar Oberstein Germany to see some of the world’s best stonecutters, to the Netherlands to absorb the beauty of the Van Gogh Museum, to Easter Island to take in the creations of ancient craftsmen, Europe cathedrals, and traveled to meditate in Tibet and India. Sheridan enjoys art history and art permeates every part of her life.

Membership affiliations

AGTA American Gem Trade Association https://agta.org/welcome-2/

Manufacturing Jewelers Suppliers Association https://mjsa.org/publicationsmedia/mjsa_journal

SNAG Society of North American Goldsmith https://www.snagmetalsmith.org/

GIA Gemological Institute of America https://www.gia.edu/

Paseo Arts District https://www.thepaseo.org/