Lorraine Yapps Cohen was born in New Jersey. She comes to the art world following a 30-year career in research & development and business, working for companies like G.D. Searle, Merck and Exxon. Lorraine has two Masters degrees—an MS in Chemistry and MBA in Marketing and most recently she was an Assistant Professor of Innovation and Rider University.

Lorraine’s real love is in design and the aesthetic arts. She has combined her technical background, her work in metallurgy research, and the management of innovation to cultivate her creative skills in jewelry design. Internships with goldsmith Valeria Johnson from Lambertville, NJ and wrap designer, Reggie Paysinger from Houston, TX enabled Lorraine to develop fabrication techniques that complement her own experimentation with metals, stones, and pearls to yield truly unique jewelry creations.

Lorraine lives and designs from her studio in Durango, Colorado

“Colorado has brought a new vision to my designs because here we experience so much more of earth’s geological splendors. New ideas flow freely. Design constraints are removed. Indigenous materials become wearable art.”

“I need to be excited by the finished piece. I need to experience the WOW, the thumping heart, and the jolt of excitement at the emergence of a stunning new design. You know it’s good by looking. Only pieces with WOW factor leave the bench.”