ABOUT THE ARTIST

Leigh Salmon is a master jeweler and creator born in Elgin, Illinois, into a family of artists. Growing up, Leigh immersed herself in various art forms, including painting with acrylics, sculpting with clay, drawing, and linocut printing. Her passion for creativity led her to earn a design degree from NC State’s School of Design.

Leigh's journey into jewelry making began with crafting beaded jewelry, which sparked her interest in creating her own beads. She learned glass bead making from Marjorie Putnam and then advanced to metalsmithing under Betty McKim at Pullen Art Center in Raleigh, NC. With a growing collection of tools, Leigh set up a dual studio, glass on one side and metalsmithing on the other. On the glass side she fuses glass in a kiln and lampworks on a torch with boro glass.

She named her one-woman business Rivet Jewelry, inspired by her early technique of using rivets to cold connect pieces before mastering soldering. Leigh still creates Rivet Jewelry and is well known for her innovative and original designs.

In 2024, Leigh Salmon launched a new jewelry line called Spike + Shackle, inspired by her best friend's new septum piercing. This collection features cutting-edge shapes made from silver, gold, and copper, often accented with gemstones. The Spike + Shackle form factor, an original concept created by Leigh, offers a unique way to wear septum jewelry. This line showcases Leigh's innovative spirit and continues her tradition of creating distinctive, high-quality pieces.

Today, Leigh creates her unique jewelry from her home studio in Raleigh, NC.