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Artist Profile: Shahasp Valentine
by Monique Holloway
It is possible that Shahasp Valentine’s love for jewelry and regalia started nearly a thousand years ago. Named after a first century Armenian queen, Shahasp may have been predestined for a life filled with finery.
Shahasp’s flair for jewels and fancy clothes even at a young age caused her mother to think she might have been a queen in her past life. “I grew up making crowns, rings, earrings, and castles out of anything I could get my hands on,” says Shahasp. “Thanks to my mom, I learned to sew at a young age and fashion became my first career. She says I was born to be an artist.” Whether it is because of her royal name, creative style, or family influence, Shahasp has settled comfortably into a career of making jewelry for the past 14 years.
One of the greatest influences on Shahasp’s work was her travels as a child. Because of her father’s job, she moved to Beirut, Lebanon when she was nine years old. Four years later, after visiting eight countries, she returned to the United States. “It was a truly wonderful life-changing experience for me. I'd already had a flair for antiques, finery, over-the-top style and loved jewelry and costume,” she explains. “But after touring through Europe and the Middle East my sense of style grew and solidified.”
Her introduction to jewelry making was a class at a local community center when she was thirteen. “I took a jewelry class where we did wax casting and loved it! I was so into adornment...and making my own accessories was the best.”
Throughout high school Shahasp spent as much time as possible in the arts-and-crafts room doing ceramics and making jewelry. “After high school I went to college, first at De Anza College and then at UC Berkeley Extension, and entered the fashion program. I was working in a fabric store at the same time and sewed for friends and clients, making accessories to go with my creations,” she says.
“Eventually, I ended up switching from the fabric store to Macy's department store. Before I knew it, I was the youngest fine jewelry manager in Macy's history. I was in heaven, surrounded by fine jewelry and fashion! At the time, age 23, it didn't get better than that.”Read more in this issue of Crafts Business.
