ABOUT THE ARTIST
Kenn was born in the New York City metropolitan area. Throughout his youth he was exposed to the value of art through his family and going to the myriad museums in the City. As a youth he was always attracted to creating his own art, primarily in 3 dimensional form. There was something about using one’s hands, to come up with something that did not exist, that was particularly intriguing to him.
As a participant in the explosion of self-expression that was the 60’s Kenn eschewed college to pursue his own path. In the late 60’s and early 70’s he started working in leather (a fashionable career choice at that time). Soon he was going to craft shows in the burgeoning craft market. As time went by he realized that he had inadvertently chosen the wrong craft. Having developed friendships with some of the premier designer/jewelers he was able to get an inside look into their world and he liked it. So in 1991 he was able to buy himself a year which he took to develop some of the skills he would need to become a jeweler. Having spent the previous 20 years developing his own design style and the patience to perfect a craft, he was a fast study.
By the end of his first year he had marketable work and went out into the crafts world as a newly minted jeweler. Time went by, much knowledge and skill was acquired and Kenn Kushner Designs was opened in downtown Syracuse. Now in the historic Armory Square district his studio is in his retail space. He does bespoke work along with selling his own designs.
As a participant in the explosion of self-expression that was the 60’s Kenn eschewed college to pursue his own path. In the late 60’s and early 70’s he started working in leather (a fashionable career choice at that time). Soon he was going to craft shows in the burgeoning craft market. As time went by he realized that he had inadvertently chosen the wrong craft. Having developed friendships with some of the premier designer/jewelers he was able to get an inside look into their world and he liked it. So in 1991 he was able to buy himself a year which he took to develop some of the skills he would need to become a jeweler. Having spent the previous 20 years developing his own design style and the patience to perfect a craft, he was a fast study.
By the end of his first year he had marketable work and went out into the crafts world as a newly minted jeweler. Time went by, much knowledge and skill was acquired and Kenn Kushner Designs was opened in downtown Syracuse. Now in the historic Armory Square district his studio is in his retail space. He does bespoke work along with selling his own designs.