SUZANNE SYZ: ARTIST, COLLECTOR, WINEMAKER
Suzanne Syz, a woman of singular charisma and artistic allure, is driven by an insatiable desire to create. In the electric ambiance of 1980s New York City, she found herself amidst luminaries such as Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, a coterie of avant-garde minds, and the very essence of contemporary art. It was here that she imbibed the energy, raw input, boundless creativity and profound love for the avant-garde that would come to define her journey.
Suzanne became an integral part of this intoxicating tapestry, a synesthete in the sensory symphony of the art elite.
Yet, when she eventually departed the whirlwind of Manhattan's creative embrace, Suzanne didn't leave her muse behind; instead, she brought it back to the serene shores of Geneva. There, she channelled the essence of her experiences into crafting jewelry. Her creations were, in a word, cool—each piece a vibrant, wearable celebration of non-conformity and unapologetic fun, on the precipice of whimsy and sophistication.
In her mastery of contemporary jewelry, Suzanne Syz wielded a palette rich with interpretations and amalgamations of artistic relics from the likes of Warhol, all while adhering to her own, authentic aesthetic.
Syz retired from jewelry in 2020, having crafted a total of 1,001 pieces, to redirect her energies toward nurturing her recently acquired vineyard in the picturesque expanse of Tuscany, Italy, and curating her ever-expanding art collection, which now encompasses more than a thousand pieces. Her homes, scattered across Geneva, Paris, and Tuscany, serve as living galleries, adorned with contemporary masterpieces.
Today, Suzanne Syz may have shifted her spotlight away from the grand shows, but her creative pulse continues to quicken. Her clients await her next revelation, as she, in turn, nurtures the flames of her unbridled imagination.
Maria Kerner: Could you describe the path that led to where you are now: a unique, prominent jewelry artist and art collector, who has recently decided to move closer to nature and engage in winemaking?
Suzanne Syz: I have been in jewelry for over 25 years. 20 years ago I also purchased Fattoria di Caspri in Tuscany – a beautiful farm with nine hectares of vineyards and four hectares of olive groves.
MK: What were your most common and most unusual examples of inspirations?
Suzanne: Inspirations come from artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and many others. From Art in general.
MK: How much space does experimenting with different materials and techniques take in your creative process?
Suzanne: I have always enjoyed experimenting with new materials: mainly with their lightness, their potential to make modern jewelry easy and comfortable to wear, and of course colors, which make the jewelry of today.
MK: What's the toughest challenge you've encountered in your creative career so far?
Suzanne: I have never encountered a tough challenge in my career. I am always positive and determined to find a solution to a problem.
MK: For readers unfamiliar with your creations, which piece would you recommend they explore first?
Suzanne: Life Savers: they are easy to wear, colorful and fashionable (like my new model, The Shield).
MK: Which is your most treasured creation and why does it hold a special place in your heart?
Suzanne: The Dog Bracelet, representing all of the dogs I was lucky to have in past years. It was exhibited in Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris around 2018.
MK: How would you encapsulate your jewelry in a few words?
Suzanne: Contemporary, fun and easy to wear. These pieces don't take themselves seriously, but they are seriously well-made with the best Swiss craftsmanship.
MK: Why did you decide to step down from the full-time creation of jewelry? Was there some specific moment, or stimulus, or event that prompted you to do that?
Suzanne: I decided to stop at 1001 pieces when Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, acquired one of my creations – the Shop Till You Drop Earrings (a whimsy fruit basket with tiny enamelled bananas, apples and pears). It inspired me to create a fun new pair of earrings, which will be shown this fall/winter (it's a surprise!).
MK: What are you doing now? I have been reading about your vineyards. Do you cultivate them yourself? Doo you continue working on your creations with your hands, directly, as you did (and still do) with your jewelry?
Suzanne: My vineyard is managed by an exceptional Alsatian winemaker, Bertrand Habsiger. We produce biodynamic wines: red and white, as well as olive oil, yellow and red tomato sauces, and confectionery.
MK: Has working in vineyards inspired any of your recent creations?
Suzanne: Since the beginning of this year, I decided to create a very limited number of pieces for my collection, which are inspired by my vineyards.
