We are committed to caring for the well-being of the natural world. Not only does Wolfgang’s jewelry inspire stewardship and engages us to personally connect with nature; upon each purchase we donate to the National Forest Foundation (NFF). Thus, one sold jewelry item equals one or more trees planted.
About the Artist
Throughout his exploration of different media over the years, starting with painting, followed by sculpting, finally designing and creating jewelry; the expression of Wolfgang’s art remains the same – translating his experiences of nature into art.
His career as an artist started when he went to the Namib desert – the Namib being one of the least disturbed areas by humans worldwide – in search of his voice as an artist. After finishing high school in Germany, he attended Munich’s Kunstakademie. Even short in duration, the time at the Academie can be considered his only formal training for his career in art. However, dissatisfied with what the art institute had to offer, Wolfgang soon left. Instead, he immersed himself in the Namib desert and thrived. Presently, he lives in southern Arizona, being inspired by spectacular sunsets and vistas.
“My unique way of experiencing nature’s creations with all my senses, while simultaneously understanding the processes behind them, forms the foundation of my work. In these moments I marvel at the purposefulness of nature’s processes and intrinsic beauty, driving my desire to create art. When making jewelry, I re-immerse myself in these experiences, which are then reflected in a landscape scene or abstract composition I create. This applies throughout my artist career starting as a landscape painter in acrylics/ mixed media, then sculptor of large waterfall sculptures in high fired ceramics and now for 13 years as a jeweler, creating wearable art.
With no formal training, I taught myself silversmithing through experimentation and persistence. It took a few years to understand metal behavior, but once I did, it opened new creative possibilities. In 2016, I participated in my first trade show, marking the complete transition of my professional journey to a studio jeweler.”
Since then, Wolfgang’s jewelry works have been prestigiously recognized.
Most recently he has won consecutively three AGTA Spectrum Awards, in 2025, the Honorable Mention Business Day Wear award, in 2024 and in 2023, the 2nd place Business Day Wear in the distinguished in the AGTA SPECTRUM Awards.
Prior to the Spectrum Awards, he had been a Saul Bell Design Award winner in also three consecutive years (2016 – 2nd place, 2017 – finalist, 2018 – 1st place). Furthermore, he had been a Niche finalist (2016), was named Centurion’s Emerging Designer winner (2018) and won 1st and Honorable Mention for Custom Design and Responsible Practices Award in the 2018 MJSA Vision Award.
About the Work
I seek to create sustainable thus I use ethically sourced precious & semi-precious gemstones, 22.5k-24k placer gold (unrefined natural gold flakes, obtained from CA prospectus) and recycled metals: 22k and 18k gold sheet on sterling silver, 14k gold of various colors and low tarnish sterling silver. These creations are fabricated by soldering and welding. Scenes are carved, engraved, and deliberately textured with layered metals, finally oxidized and re-sanded as needed.
Artist Statement
I would consider myself as a translator. An interpreter who allows for the spirit of nature to be conveyed through my works. With each completed piece, I share with the viewer/wearer the joy I found being in nature. Jewelry allows me to create not only beauty, but also meaning. Unlike painting or sculpture, jewelry becomes part of daily life: personal, intimate, and reflective of the wearer’s feelings. I find great joy in seeing a collector’s genuine smile when a piece resonates with the person deeply. In that moment, the connection between the art, the wearer, and nature comes full circle, speaking from the heart without the need for words. It is my hope that we humans truly feel being a part of nature and feel inspired to protect the natural world we live in.
Wolfgang Vaatz, interviewed by his daughter Katja Vaatz.
