“Skill without imagination is craftsmanship and gives us many useful objects such as wickerwork picnic baskets. Imagination without skill gives us modern art.”
-Tom Stoppard
Do you have a mission in life?
To live a good life and to bring a little joy to the few fellow souls.
When you firstly came to the America, how did you localize your designs to American consumers?
When I came to America, I found that the mainstream jewelry design is quite uniform and pedestrian, therefore I had an idea to create something entirely different, beautiful and mysterious.
What are the influences of your industrial design major and family architect background on your jewelry designs?
Industrial design studies made me always think about ergonomics. I can’t imagine making a piece that would not be comfortable to wear all the time.
My father’s architectural and graphic design work taught me love for art and calligraphy.
What do you think are your designs’ features compared with other jewelry designers?
There are some jewelry designers that I admire, but I don’t like to look at their work, because I try not to be influenced by other jewelry.
How do you insist on your own style, as your jewelry is easily recognizable as Alex Sepkus’?
I don’t try to create my own style, it comes naturally. My work reflects my personality and skill. I work without second thoughts, almost intuitively.
I’m a Lithuanian, therefore a spiritual citizen of Old Europe. Hopefully this can be seen in my creations.
Why do you usually use microscope to do design? And what does this method influence your design results?
Working with a microscope forces a certain discipline. It helps to avoid distractions and to concentrate on the piece I’m making.
Also, there is a microscope on every bench in our shop - it helps to get the production quality that is almost the same as my original pieces.
How do you usually find the inspirations on jewelry design?
I really don’t have any inspirations for designs, the shapes seem to flow from my head.
But I need to be inspired to start working, and this can come from anywhere - a book, a painting, an old church, even from music.
You have your own category of jewelry, what is this? Please share more with us.
It is difficult to describe, because I always try to avoid descriptions. Intuitively designed, hand-made looking jewelry with a very high quality of workmanship.