American Artist Appreciation Month Series
Meet Arden Bardol, a professionally trained architect-turned-artist whose bold jewelry pieces bring form, color, and texture into playful harmony.
Based in the sunny shores of Ponte Vedra Beach just outside of Jacksonville, Florida, Bardol brings a designer’s precision and an artist’s imagination to every piece she creates—from sculptural necklaces to geometric earrings you can find at the Cummer Museum Shop.
We caught up with Bardol in celebration of American Artist Appreciation Month to learn more about her journey as an artist, her signature Dots Collection, and why supporting local artists matters now more than ever.
Read on to learn how travel, family traditions, and hands-on experimentation shape Bardol’s work, and why conversations with museum and museum store visitors are some of her most cherished memories.
Museum Store Sunday (MSS): Hi Arden! It’s nice to meet you. Can you tell us about yourself and your journey as an artist?
Arden Bardol (AB): I received my professional training in architecture, where form follows function. In my wearable art—a passion of mine—form comes from bringing structure, color, and texture together in a composition that is both functional and visually pleasing.
My artistic journey began at a very young age, working on small projects with my father. Our projects always included wood, string, glass, stones, and “found objects.” Throughout elementary and high school, I always had an art project underway, usually outside of any required class curriculum. College brought an intense study of the built environment, but more importantly, my education at Carnegie Mellon University taught me how to transform my ideas into built form.
Arden Bardol working in her shop
After graduating, I entered the fields of architecture and interior design, always keeping other creative projects going on the side. I studied ceramics for several years at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, focusing on porcelain and constantly pushing the limits of the clay while learning new firing and glazing techniques. I also studied welding and blacksmithing, driven by a desire to incorporate metal and sculpture into my studio practice.
My travels—to Japan, Korea, China, the Philippines, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and across the Midwestern United States—have exposed me to a wide range of cultural influences. These experiences now inspire much of my wearable and sculptural art.
Various Pieces of Jewelry by Arden Bardol
I work primarily with polymer clay blended with a variety of mixed metals, most often tarnish-free stainless steel, using a process I continue to refine. Each of my pieces is handmade and either one-of-a-kind or part of a limited production. My work tends toward the classic and the geometric, but always has a bit of whimsy.
I opened my studio in 2004. Today, I remain active in my design studio, maintaining a carefully orchestrated balance between designing small-scale objects to adorn the body and large-scale pieces that occupy and enhance the “landscape” of our world.
MSS: Who or what inspired you to become an artist?
AB: Having been born into a family of creative people, I think that art, in all forms, was “in my blood.”
MSS: Speaking of creativity, we’ve heard so much about The Dots Collection. How did it come about?
AB: The Dots Collection is a series first inspired as part of a fellowship I received from the NEA in 2017. The goal I had for my 2017 Fellowship was to explore methods of combining polymer clay and mixed metals, working primarily with stainless steel.
Dots Earrings by Arden Bardol
The metal in this series is piano wire, which is shaped and connected using cold connections, which are then sandwiched with colorful polymer clay. The goal was to create lightweight pieces that coordinate with lots of things, making the series versatile and easy to pair for any occasion.
MSS: How do you make these pieces? Walk us through the process.
AB: I use a variety of cold connections and welded stainless steel. Each piece is sketched out, hand-cut, and hand-shaped, then welded, filed, and polished. The polymer work is done after the stainless steel components have been created. All the polymer clay is custom mixed by blending a combination of primary colors, as well as black, white, gold, and silver. Once base colors are created, I stack and overlay them to make small-scale slabs from which to work.
MSS: What do customers love most about the collection?
AB: The whimsical nature and vibrant colors of the meticulously handcrafted details of each piece. Everything is very lightweight, whether it is a pair of earrings, a brooch, or a necklace.
MSS: Why is it important for shoppers to support local artists?
AB: Artists are the lifeblood of innovation and creativity in the world. They explore ideas and create art that is intended to speak to the world. Often, we push boundaries and address controversial issues that affect not only our local community but the world community as a whole. Supporting local artists has a direct impact on the local economy and allows people to come together with a shared interest and/or perspective.
MSS: Tell us about your relationship with the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens and the Cummer Museum Shop.
AB: I have been associated with the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens for 5 years. I have participated in several events on an annual basis, as well as participated in exclusive trunk shows. The Cummer Museum is important to our community as a resource and educator. As an artist, I feel it is important to foster growth and education of the community through intriguing shows and presentations that get you out of your comfort zone.
MSS: What’s your favorite museum store-related memory?
AB: Every event I participate in leads me to compelling conversations with people. By describing my work, the process, and inspirations for a piece, I share a little about myself and get to engage and learn about other people and their interests and perspectives.
The most recent memory is a trunk show where I had a lengthy conversation with a woman and her adult son. The son was going through a hard time, and I was able to bring light and encouragement to him through a piece that his mother insisted on purchasing for him. It was a brooch that was going to be framed and hung on the wall in his home.
MSS: Where can people follow you on your journey as an artist?
AB: They can follow me on Instagram (@abardol) and Facebook.
Support Local Artists Like Arden Bardol in Your Community
When you shop at museum stores, you’re supporting local artists like Bardol so they can continue sharing their work and creativity with their communities—and the world.
Shopping at museum stores also boosts your community’s economy, strengthens civic pride, and funds programming developed by your favorite museums and cultural institutions.
Find a museum store near you with our handy store locator, and don’t forget to save the date for Museum Store Sunday! On November 30, 2025, you’ll find unique and locally made holiday gifts, special events, discounts, gifts with purchase, meet the maker opportunities, and so much more at more than 2,200 museum stores across the globe.