I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, under the sign of Sagittarius. I grew up in a warm, loving, very curious, and talented artistic family. Creativity was not only encouraged—it was part of my DNA. My mother was a pastry chef, my father is a musician and a businessman, and my grandmother Juanita was a tailor with a poetic soul and an exquisite taste for jewelry and photography.
Juanita had a fine collection of vintage photographs and a dazzling fine jewelry collection that captured my imagination. As a little girl, I spent hours marveling at the intricate details of these pieces, wondering how such tiny treasures were brought into existence. That childhood sense of wonder never left me—it became the spark that ignited my lifelong passion for metalsmithing and creative expression.
From a very early age, I felt a profound connection to music, architecture, sacred symbols, and the natural world. My inspiration has always come from a wide array of sources: love, alchemy, magic, spirituality, meaning, tales, talismans, sacred geometry, ancient cultures, fashion, nature, science fiction, philosophy, and humor. I draw from the mineral kingdom, the geometry of the cosmos, ancestral traditions, and my own dreams to create work that feels timeless, powerful, and deeply symbolic.
I studied Fashion and Textile Design at the University of Architecture in Buenos Aires, Multimedia Arts at ORT University, and Music Production at Escuela Sónica. At the age of 19, while still studying design, I took a short course in contemporary jewelry with the acclaimed Argentine jeweler Jorge Castañón. Although the course lasted only a few months, it was transformative. I realized immediately that this ancient craft would be my life’s work. Driven by passion and intuition, I opened my first jewelry studio a few months later and began exploring fire-based metalsmithing techniques on my own.
From the beginning, I approached my craft with a sense of reverence and adventure. While learning technical skills, I was also immersed in other creative disciplines: sculpture, silk painting, looms, serigraphy, photography, customized outfits, vocal training, latex special effects, scenography, and saxophone. My mind was always open, my hands always creating. Those early years were a whirlwind of study, experimentation, and self-discovery.
In time, my pursuit of traditional techniques led me to the legendary Master Jeweler Jorge Pablo Pallarols. Descended from eight generations of renowned Argentine metalsmiths, the Pallarols family has been working in metal since 1780 and is considered metalsmithing royalty. Under Jorge Pablo’s guidance, I learned classic European and Argentine silversmithing techniques, including chasing, repoussé, and the ceremonial use of metalwork. These lessons deepened my respect for craft as a spiritual and cultural legacy and further ignited my mission to preserve ancient methods in a modern context.
By 1998, I began teaching jewelry making in my Buenos Aires studio, and later at the University of Architecture. I developed a reputation for generosity as a teacher and for nurturing young talent, many of whom have gone on to become successful designers in Argentina and beyond. My studio was more than a place to create—it was a space of transformation, empowerment, and experimentation.
Parallel to my teaching, I worked extensively in the fashion industry. I collaborated with some of the most influential Argentine fashion brands, including María Cher, Jazmín Chebar, Ayres, Ona Saez, Trosman, Churba, Chocolate, Vitamina, and international labels like Guess?, Marciano, Bebe, and the Eva Mendez Collection for NY & CO.
My ability to merge high fashion aesthetics with fine craftsmanship made me a sought-after designer for special collections, one-of-a-kind runway pieces, and brand collaborations.
I also created custom designs for high-profile clients and global campaigns. My bespoke pieces were commissioned for brands like Disney, Absolut Vodka, MTV, Nike & iPod, General Motors, and Casa FOA. In each collaboration, I brought my signature blend of innovation, storytelling, and technical mastery.
Not limited to wearable art, I expanded my practice into large-scale metal sculpture and art furniture. In 2003, I created eight massive chased copper, brass, and nickel silver bars for an exclusive boutique hotel at the renowned sky resort Sudbruck at the Cerró Catedral in Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina. In 2014, my Fortitude Chair—a striking fine silver sculpture—was exhibited at the prestigious Saatchi & Saatchi gallery in London during the Collectors Exhibition. This piece exemplified my ability to cross disciplines while remaining grounded in the core values of craft and symbolism.
In 2003, I opened the first Contemporary Jewelry Art Gallery in Buenos Aires, creating a platform for emerging and established artists to showcase conceptual jewelry as an art form. My vision contributed to the growing recognition of contemporary jewelry in Argentina and inspired a new generation to see jewelry not just as adornment, but as a language, a statement, and a vessel of memory.
In 2014, I moved to New York City, where I continued to expand my vision. I founded NYC Jewelry Lab in Brooklyn, a hybrid space where I teach, design, and mentor. I also offer creative consulting and design services for emerging and established jewelry brands, helping them refine their identity, develop collections, and grow sustainably. My clients benefit not only from my technical expertise but from my deeply intuitive and holistic approach to design and brand storytelling.
I have continued to collaborate with the Eva Mendes Collection and other private labels, while curating jewelry exhibitions for NYC Jewelry Week. My love of community, storytelling, and education remains at the heart of everything I do.
My work as a jewelry educator and consultant is rooted in the belief that the ancient art of metalsmithing must be preserved, honored, and adapted for future generations. I teach my students not only how to make beautiful pieces but how to infuse them with soul, story, and intention. My classes are rich with history, technique, personal development, and a deep respect for the materials themselves.
Alongside my visual arts practice, I am also a dedicated musician. A trained saxophonist and singer, I bring the same sensitivity, emotion, and improvisation to my music as I do to my metalwork. I am a member of the Resistance Revival Chorus. With them, I have performed in high-profile venues like the Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, Barclay Center, Summer Stage, The Roots Picnic, The Rockefeller Center, Carnegie Hall, Apollo Theater, among many other iconic places—using my voice as a tool for change, healing, and unity.
In my spiritual practice, I host Chakra Sound Bath experiences, combining live sound, guided meditation, and healing frequencies. These sound journeys integrate my knowledge of voice, energy, and ancestral wisdom, offering participants a space to reconnect with themselves and the world around them. Like my jewelry, my sound baths are deeply intentional and rooted in love.
Whether crafting a one-of-a-kind fine jewelry talisman, sculpting a metal chair, composing a jazz melody, or teaching a metalsmithing class, I bring my whole heart, my ancestral wisdom, and my unique artistic vision to everything I touch. My work is at once ancient and futuristic, personal and universal, material and metaphysical.
I believe that art, when created with intention, has the power to transform, protect, and connect. That belief guides every piece I create. My jewelry is not just adornment; it’s a story, a memory, a magic heirloom that will be passed through generations to come. My students don’t just learn to solder or saw—they learn to trust their intuition, to follow their curiosity, and to create with purpose.
I, Carolina González Iwanow, am more than a designer or teacher. I am an alchemist of form, sound, and soul. I am keeping the sacred flame of craftsmanship alive for future generations while continuing to innovate, inspire, and enchant.
Additional Classes by Carolina Iwanow