ROBERT LEE MORRIS: THE POWER OF JEWELRY

C o l l a b o ra t i n g s i n c e D o n n a K a ra n ’s f i r s t f a s h i o n s h ow i n 1 9 8 5 , R o b e r t L e e M o r r i s a n d D o n n a K a ra n c o n t i n u e t o i n s p i r e e a ch o t h e r t o d ay. Th e d e s i g n e r s r e c e n t l y wo r k e d t o g e t h e r f o r D o n n a K a ra n ’s S p r i n g 2 0 0 3 r u n way s h ow, f o r wh i ch R o b e r t d e s i g n e d a c c e s s o r i e s i n 1 8 k g o l d a n d b ra s s .
R o b e r t ’s j e w e l r y h a s b e e n i n c l u d e d i n m a ny o f t h e D o n n a K a ra n c o l l e c t i o n s a n d b r i n g s a u n i q u e l o o k t o D o n n a K a ra n ’s s t u n n i n g d e s i g n s . A ny t h i n g f r o m b e l t s t o theboldlooksinadressdesign.
D o n n a K a ra n n o t o n l y h o n o r s R o b e r t i n h e r c l o t h i n g d e s i g n b u t e m b ra c e s t h e m a ny R o b e r t L e e M o r r i s s c u l p t u r e s w i t h i n h e r r e t a i l s t o r e s . I l l u s t ra t i n g t h e s i m i l a r v i s i o n o f d e s i g n p u r i t y s h a r e d by t h e t wo d e s i g n e r s , R o b e r t ’s wo r k b l e n d s perfectly with the atmosphere of the
D o n n a K a ra n r e t a i l s t o r e .
Th e s e f r i e n d s a n d a r t i s t i c c o m p a n i o n s w i l l c o n t i n u e t o wo r k t o g e t h e r a n d i n c o r p o ra t e e a ch o t h e r ’s u n i q u e v i s i o n s i n f u t u r e wo r k s .
Acclaimed designer Robert Lee Morris has dominated the world of high-fashionjewelryandbodyornamentinAmericaformorethan30years.Influenced
by his multicultural milieu but always staying true to his singular, innovative
vision,Morrishascreatednotonlyhisowncutting-edgeworkbutalsocollectionsforsuchdesignersasDonnaKaran,CalvinKlein,andKarlLagerfeld.
ROBERTLEEMORRIS:THEPOWEROFJEWELRY(Abrams,$60.00,November
2004)providesacandid,insider’sviewofthefashionworldthroughtheeyes
ofoneofitslegendaryicons.
This book, Robert Lee Morris’ first, combines the artist’s own words with imagesofhisstunningjewelry.Thestoryofhissuccessisaccompaniedbyphotographs of some of his signature pieces. The book includes iconic pieces
fromthe1980’sincludingasnakescalebelt,crossespopularizedbyMadonna,
a vertebrae cuff, the single elongated shoulder duster worn by Cher, and a
variety of knuckle rings. Other images found within the book include Robert
LeeMorris’s“WebofLife”necklacethatwonhimthePlatinumBuildInternationalGrandPrizeforDesignAwardin1999,graffitisilverpinsthatformtheir
ownlanguageandthe“Sails”sculpturesandjewelrycollectionfromtheearly
2000’s. From the gold crosses popularized by Madonna and worn today by
Black Sabbath singer and reality-TV star Ozzy Osbourne to the bracelet once
favored by Oprah Winfrey, Morris’ simple yet powerful designs have made a
remarkableimpressionongenerationsofjewelry-lovers.
In his conversational and intimate narrative, Morris discusses how his unique
blendoftribalandindustrialculturecametolifeinhiscollections.WithafatherintheAirForce,Morristraveledthroughouthischildhood,fromthesouthernUnitedStatestoJapantoRiodeJaneiro,absorbingthedistinctivestylesof
eachlandintohisownextraordinaryvision.
Morrisexplainsthathischallengeincreatinghisuniqueandstrikingdesignsis
to “celebrate the ethnic mood while keeping an urban chic quality that gives
the work more flexibility in fashion and everyday wear.” The man who once
createdasmanyas18collectionsinoneyearhassucceededinbringingavibrantperspectivetotheworldofjewelrydesign.
Notforreproduction
Moviestill:
LegallyBlondeTwo:RedWhiteandBlonde
Robert
Lee
illuminates
the
Morris
body
creates
and
jewelry
nourishes
the
that
soul.
Arenownedjewelryartist,Robertcontinuestomoldand
sculpteachpiecehimself,creatingworksofartthatreveal
hissingularvision.Aneffortlessfusionofthespiritualandthe
sensual, Robert Lee Morris’ unique body of work reflects the
forefrontofjewelryaswearableart.
Already legendary, Robert Lee Morris is recognized as a pioneer
in the fine jewelry world, as well as in the fashion arena. Having
collaborated with designers such as Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld
Michael Kors and Donna Karan, Robert understands what makes
a woman beautiful and unique. His sensuous designs draw their
inspirationfromnature,mythandfantasyandhavebeendescribed
bymanyasboth“cerebral”and“intuitive.”
Over the years, Robert has developed his own signature shapes
recognizedbyallinthejewelryindustry.Eachcollectioncaptures
the strength and grace of liquid geometry that has been Robert’s
signaturesince1970.Witheachnewsketch,Robertfindswaysof
reinventinghimselftimeandtimeagain,takinghisexistingshapes
andmakingthemnewagain.
It is no surprise that Robert Lee Morris is constantly earning new
honors and achieving further recognitions. Hi unique designs have
won numerous awards: a recipient of a Coty and two CFDA awards,
the DeBeers “Right Hand Ring” award and the Tahitian Pearl Trophy
–NorthAmerica,tonamebutafew.Robert’smanycollaborativeeffortsand
professionalaffiliationsmakehimoneofAmerica’smostinfluentialjewelryand
accessorydesigners.Youcanbesure,therewillalwaysbea“nextbigthing”from
theRobertLeeMorrisstudio.
2000
BestDesignInPearls,CoutureCollectionandConference
WorldGoldCouncil,GoldTrendsCompetition
1999
TahitianPearlTrophyGrandPrize,NorthAmerica
DeBeers‘RightHandRing’Award
PlatinumGuildInternational:GrandPrizeforDesign
1995-1996
25YearRetrospectiveattheMuseumattheFashionInstitute
ofTechnology
1995
WoolmarkAwardforMen’sJewelry
1994
CouncilofFashionDesignersofAmerica
1992
WoolmarkFashionAccessoriesBenefitBall
‘JewelryDesignerOfTheYear’
1987
InternationalGold
1985
CouncilofFashionDesignersofAmerica
1981
Coty