Born in 1954 in Boston, MA
EDUCATION
1980 MFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
1977 BFA, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2009 Bellevue Arts Museum, Lecturer, Bellevue, WA
2007 Central Washington University Speaker Series, Featured Speaker, Ellensburg, WA
2006 Art Jewelry Forum Emerging Artist Award, Juror
The Women and Depression Conference, Featured Speaker, Sydney, Australia
2004-05 Curator and Installation Design for Passing the Torch, Seattle Metals Guild, Gallery One, Ellensburg, WA
2004 Central Washington University Student Exhibition, Juror
Society of North American Goldsmiths High School Minority Award, Juror
Gallery One, Featured Speaker, Ellensburg, WA
2003 Art Jewelry Forum Emerging Artist Award, Juror
2002-pres. Seattle Metals Guild, Educational Outreach Committee Chair
2001 Bellevue Arts and Crafts Fair, Juror, Bellevue, WA
Seattle Metals Guild, Featured Speaker, Seattle, WA
SOFA, Featured Speaker, Chicago, IL
University of the Arts, Featured Speaker, Philadelphia, PN
2000-pres. The Olympic Music Festival, Board Member
2000 University of Washington, Featured Speaker, Seattle, WA
2004 Passing the Torch, Seattle Metals Guild, GALLERY ONE, Curator, Ellensburg, WA
2003 Passing the Torch, Seattle Metals Guild, SOTA Gallery, Curator, Tacoma, WA
1998-99 Powerful Arts Coalition, Board Member
1997 The Jewelry of Ken Cory: Play Disguised, Tacoma Art Museum, Curator, Tacoma, WA
1987-97 Friends of the Walker Rock Garden, Board Member, Seattle, WA
1996 Bellevue Arts and Crafts Fair, Juror, Bellevue, WA
Jewelry/Metals Symposium, Featured Speaker, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
1995 Ken Cory: The Best of Thirty Years, Le Mieux Galleries, Curator, New Orleans, LA
Society of North American Goldsmiths Conference, Featured Speaker, New Orleans, LA
1994 Northern Legacy, Northwest Folklife Festival, Curator, Seattle, WA
Seattle PTSA, Orca Elementary School, President
Art to Wear, Larson Gallery, Juror, Yakima, WA
Facere Jewelry Competition, Juror, Seattle, WA
1993 We Are Polynesia, Northwest Folklife Festival, Curator, Seattle, WA
1991 Pounding Hearts, Singing Feet, Northwest Folklife Festival, Curator, Seattle, WA
1990 The Eastern Ear, Northwest Folklife Festival, Curator, Seattle, WA
1988-89 Washington State Folklife Council, Board Member, Seattle, WA
1986-88 Mia Gallery, Installation Design, Seattle, WA
1987 For As Long As I Can Remember..., Governor's Invitational Art Exhibition,
Washington State Capitol Museum, Curator, Olympia, WA
1980-85 Jewelry Manufacturing Industry
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2009 Loud Bones: The Jewelry of Nancy Worden, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
2008 Fear Factor, Traver Gallery, Tacoma, WA
2005 Modern Artifacts, William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA
2001 Adult Education, Helen Drut Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2000 Homework, William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA
1998 Armed and Dangerous, William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA
1996 Pet Peeves, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA
1994 True Confessions, William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA
1993 Nancy Worden, Maxine's Artisan Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Current Work, William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA
1984 Eight Brooches, Polly's Wearable Art, Seattle, WA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2009 Metal-Urge, Traver Gallery, Tacoma, WA
2007 Ornament As Art: Avant-Garde Jewelry From the Helen Williams Drutt Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX
Jewelry by Artists: The Daphne Farago Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
2006 Building Allegory, William Traver Gallery, Tacoma, WA
Building Traditions: Contemporary Art from the Tacoma Art Museum, Whatcom Museum of History and Art,
Bellingham, WA
Challenging the Chatelaine!, Designmuseo, Helsinki, Finland
The Necklace Show, Velvet da Vinci, San Francisco, CA
Recycled Art, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Willamette University, Salem, OR
Metalisms: Signature Works in Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Center for Visual Art, Metropolitan State College of
Denver, CO
2005 Transformation 5: Contemporary Works in Found Materials, The Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA
Magnificent Extravagance: Artists and Opulence, Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
2004 BUMBERBEIENNALE 2004: consumables, Lopez Room, Seattle Center, A Bumbershoot Visual Arts Exhibition,
Matthew Kangas, Curator Seattle, WA
A View From America: Contemporary Jewelry, Gold Treasury Museum, Old Treasury Building, Melbourne, Victoria,
Australia
Jewelry as Sculpture, Gallery One, Ellensburg, WA
2003 Exhibition in Motion, Society of North American Goldsmith's Conference, San Francisco, CA
Building Tradtion, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
2002 25th Anniversary Exhibition, William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA
Blade Slices Silk, Reese Bullen Gallery, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
2001 Jewels, Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane, WA
2000 Under the Influence, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
1999 Beadz! New Work by Contemporary Artists, American Craft Museum, New York, NY
The Art of Adornment: 1,500 Years of Hand-Crafted Body Ornament, Evansville Museum of Arts and Science,
Evansville, IN
Seeing Money, Portland, OR
Self Portrait: Postures in Metal, Anheuser-Busch Gallery, Center of Contemporary Arts, St. Louis, MO
Icons of the 20th Century, Nancy Sachs Gallery, St. Louis, MO
1998 Brooching It Diplomatically: A Tribute to Madeline K. Albright, Helen Drutt Gallery, PA, Museum Het Kruithuis,
's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, Museum of art and Design, Helsinki, Finland, Tarbekunstimuuesum, Estonia,
American Craft Museum, New York, NY
1997 Food, Glorious Food: Artists and Eating, Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI
Pearl Jam, Sybaris Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
Craft As Art - Art As Craft, Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, NY
In The Beginning Was The World, Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI
1996 Viewpoint: Art as Message, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO
Evergreen State Women Artists, Larson Gallery, Yakima Valley College, Yakima, WA
1996 Just Add Water: Artists and the Aqueous World, Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI
Ubiquitous Bead II, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA
1995 Triptych: Exploration of the Brooch, Craft Alliance Gallery, St. Louis, MO
Domestic Bliss, Bumbershoot Arts Festival, Seattle, WA
Jewelry from the Permanent Collection, American Craft Museum, New York, NY
Wearing an Opinion: Humor and Comment in Jewelry, Joanne Rapp Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
1994 Words for a Thousand Pictures, Art and Soul Gallery, Mill Valley, CA
Invitational Jewelry Exhibition, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Group Gallery Exhibit, Ariana Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
1993 Screams with Laughter: Storytelling in Northwest Craft, Lloyd Herman, curator, Bumbershoot Arts Festival and
Washington Convention Center, Seattle, WA
Group Gallery Exhibit, Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Humanities, Ketchum, ID
Jewelry Showcase, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1992 Art to Wear, Larson Gallery, Yakima Valley College, Yakima, WA; Creative Design in Jewelry Award
Invitational Jewelry Show, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA
1990 Small Craft Warnings, Gallery 500, Elkins Park, PA
1989 Continuum--The Span of Time, Sculpture to Wear, Los Angeles, CA
Storytelling in Metal, The Artisan Gallery, Northampton, MA
Art Jewelry, Mia Gallery, Seattle, WA
1988 The Jewelers' Eye, Mia Gallery, Seattle, WA
Northwest Crafts ‘88, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
Private Jewels, Mia Gallery, Seattle, WA
Metal Arts, North Seattle Community College, Seattle, WA
1987 Jewelry as Image, Mia Gallery, Seattle, WA
Group Gallery Exhibit, Aaron Faber Gallery, New York, NY
1986 Artwork/ Working Art, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA
1985 Neo York/Seattle, Center of Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA
1984 Modern Metals, Sarah Spurgeon Gallery, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA
1982 Art Arcade, Bumbershoot Arts Festival, Seattle, WA
1980 The Queen's Gallery Jewelry Invitational, The Queen's Gallery, Charlotte, NC
Spotlight on Crafts, Kleinert Gallery, Woodstock, NY
Georgia Crafts Competition, Merit Award, Okefenokee Heritage Center, Waycross, GA
Art of Adornment, Sign of the Swan Crafts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1979 Statements in Sterling, 21st Sterling Silver Design Competition, Honorable Mention, Lever House, New York, NY;
Judges Lloyd Herman and Arline M. Fisch
1978 Bellevue Arts and Crafts Annual, Bellevue Arts and Crafts Fair, Bellevue, WA
Second National Ring Show, UGA Visual Arts Gallery, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
37th Annual Cedar City National Art Exhibition, Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, Southern Utah State College, Cedar
City, UT
1977 Marietta College Crafts National '77, Grover M. Hermann Fine Arts Center, Marietta College, Marietta, OH
Bellevue Arts and Crafts Annual, Bellevue Arts and Crafts Fair, Bellevue, WA
First National Ring Competition, Jurors' Award, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
PERMANENT INSTALLATIONS AND COLLECTIONS
Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI
City of Seattle, Seattle, WA
Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY
Museum of Fine Art, Houston, TX
Numerous private collections
The Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
Stedelijk Museum‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
The University of Georgia, Athens, GA
AWARDS AND GRANTS
2006-07 Artist in Residence, Hamilton Middle School, Seattle, WA
2005 Artist Trust Grant, Washington State Arts Commission Fellowship
2004 Distinguished Alumni, College of Arts and Humanities, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA
2003-07 Artist in Residence, Madrona School, (K-8), Seattle, WA
2001 City of Seattle Portable Works Collection, (Finalist for Mayoral Medal Design)
1995 Seattle Artists (City of Seattle Portable Works Collection)
1992 Artist Trust GAP Award
Dunbar Jewelers Award for Creative Design in Jewelry
1979 Honorable Mention, 21st Sterling Silver Design Competition
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2006 The Evergreen State College, Seminar and Workshop, Olympia, WA
2005 City of Tempe, Department of Cultural Services, workshop, Tempe, AZ
University of Georgia, Studies Abroad – Cortona, Summer
1990-pres. Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle, WA
2004-05 Artist in Residence, Washington State Arts Commission, Arts in Education Program
2004 Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC
2003-04 SPIRAL Program, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA
2003 Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA
Madrona School (K-8) Seattle, WA, Artist in Residence
2001 Seattle Metals Guild, Seattle, WA
SOFA, Chicago, IL
University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2000 University of Washington, Seattle, WA
1999 Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC
1997 Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME
1996 Jewelry / Metals Symposium, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
1995 Society of North American Goldsmiths Conference, New Orleans, LA
Workshop, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
1993 Workshop, Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Humanities, Ketchum, ID
1990 Workshop, The Shepherdess, San Diego, CA
1981 Tucson Parks and Recreation, Tucson, AZ
1978-80 University of Georgia, Athens, GA
1977-78 Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA
PUBLICATIONS
2009 Cox, Allen. "Heavy Metal Summer", Tacoma City Arts, pp. 12-15, June 2009
Corey-Butler, Jessica. "Metal-Urge", Weekly Volcano, June 4, 2009
2006 Warg, Pauline. Making Metal Beads, New York: Lark/Sterling Books
Schick, Marjorie. 500 Necklaces, New York: Lark/Sterling Books
Kangas, Matthew. Craft and Concept: The Rematerialization of the Art Object, New York: Midmarch Arts Press
Kangas, Matthew. “Nancy Worden – Excavations”, Metalsmith, Spring. Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 26-33
2005 Wagonfeld, Judy. “Nancy Worden’s super-size, superbly crafted necklaces tout femine power”, Seattle PI, What’s on
Display section, March 18, p. 22
ARTnews, June, p. 133,
LeVan, Marthe. The Penland Book of Jewelry: Master Classes in Jewelry Techniques, New York: Lark/Sterling Books
Spear, Richard. “Nancy Worden”, ARTnews, June, Vol. 104, No. 6, p. 133
Ramljak, Suzanne. “Protective Ornament: Dressed for Defense”, Metalsmith, Spring, Vol. 25, No. 2, pg. 25
Phinney, Susan. “Art to Go”, Seattle Post Intellegencer, Life and Arts section, Dec. 15, E1-5
Hackett, Regina. “$6000 of Encouragement for 21 Artists”, Seattle Post Intellegencer, Nov. 21, E3
Kangas, Matthew. “Jewelry maker sticks her neck out”, Seattle Times, Ticket section, March 4, p. 43
2004 DISCOVERY: 50 Years of Craft Experience at Haystack Mountain School of Craft, Edited by Carl Little, University of
Maine Press, Orono 2004, pp. 15,16
2003 Meilach, Dona. "Art Jewelry Today," Schiffer Publishing 2003
Worden, Nancy. "Art Jewelry Forum: Advocates for Personal Adornment," Ornament, Winter 2003, Vol.26, No 2, pp.
38-41
2001 Halper, Vicki. "Findings: The Jewelry of Ramona Salberg," Bank of America/University of Washington Press, 2001, p.
17-19
Updike, Robin. "Multigenerational Themes: Nancy Worden", Ornament, Spring 2001, Vol.24, No.3, p.50-55
2000 Wagonfeld, Judy. "Jewelry Makes a Statement as Art in Tacoma Museum Show," Seattle Post-Intelligencer,
December 15, 2000. What's on Display, p.20
1999 "Brooching It Diplomatically: A Tribute to Madeline K. Albright", American Craft, February/March 1999, Vol.59, No. 1,
p. 76-79
English, Helen Drutt. Brooching It Diplomatically: A Tribute to Madeline K. Albright, published by Helen Drutt, the
Museum of Art and Design, Helsinki, Finland and the Museum Het Kruithuis, 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, pp.
142, 143, 175
1998 Biskeborn, Susan. "Nancy Worden: Getting Personal," American Craft, October / November 1998, Vol. 58, No. 5, p.
54-57 and cover
1997 Mitchell, Ben. "The Jewelry of Ken Cory: Play Disguised," Tacoma Art Museum / University of Washington Press,
1997, pp.13-21, 66-69
Shepley, Carol Ferring. "Viewpoint: Art As Message," American Craft, December 1996 / January 1997,Vol.56, No.6,
pp. 50-52
1996 Benesh, Carolyn. "Nancy Worden: Passionate Statements." Ornament, Autumn 1996, Vol.20, No.1, p.46-51, cover ill.
Kangas, Matthew. "The Rematerialization of the Art Object," Sculpture, July / August 1996, Vol.15, No.6, pp.24-27
Updike, Robin. "Beyond Fashion: The Evocative Art of Jewelry," Pacific: The Seattle Times/Post Intelligencer,
December 1, 1996, pp.28-44
Updike, Robin. "Crowning the City," Seattle Times, February 15, 1996, Tempo, p. C18
1995 Kangas, Matthew. "Ellensburg Funky," Metalsmith, Winter 1995, Vol.15, No.4, pp.15-21
1994 American Craft, December 1994 / January 1995, Vol.54, No.6, p.74
Kangas, Matthew. "Nancy Worden," Metalsmith, Winter 1994, Vol.14, No.1, p.5, 36
Ornament, Autumn 1994, Vol.18, No.1, p.61
Ornament, Winter 1994, Vol.18, No.2, p.81
Updike, Robin. "Enticing Art," Seattle Times, November 17, 1994, Scene, p. E4
1993 LaPlantz, David. "Jewelry / Metals Survey #3: Ideas, Images, and Imagemakers," LaPlantz Studios, 1993, p.245,
cover ill.
Ornament, Spring 1993, Vol.16, No.3, p.27
Updike, Robin. "Art Jewelry: bits and pieces that make a nice fit," Seattle Times, June 2, 1993
1992 LaPlantz, David and Shereen. "Jewelry / Metals Survey #2: A Way of Communicating." LaPlantz Studios, 1992, p.98
1989 Angeles Magazine, August 1989, pp. 34-35
Liu, Robert K. "Nancy Worden," Ornament, Spring 1989, Vol.12, No.3, pp.30-31
1988 Pascual, Beatriz. "Wearing one-of-a-kind jewelry is a means of personal expression," WOMAN Inc.: The Puget Sound
Business Journal, December 5,1988, p.4
Updike, Robin. "Beyond Jewelry," Pacific: The Seattle Times/Seattle Post Intelligencer, October 9,1988, p.20
1982 Via: Northwest Fashion Magazine, October 1982, Vol.1, No.8, p.26-27
