Lou Zeldis: master craftsman, visionary artist, creative genius, exceptionally kind human being. Since his passing in 2012, Lou’s work has garnered a cult following of collectors all over the globe who are drawn to his ruggedly elegant pieces, evocative of the natural landscape of his adopted home, Indonesia. Lou left a successful career in musical theater on Broadway (he was in the original cast of Hello, Dolly!) to move to Bali in the mid-1960s. There he discovered a passion for the traditional jewelry- and textile-making of local artisans. He became much-beloved as an “artist’s artist,” with a boundless creativity and prolific output in many media. His distinctively metal-wrapped stone pendant necklaces and earrings are perhaps the most recognizable works, and a good place to start collecting. Serious Lou collectors seek out those rare pieces that feature 22k gold, his hard to find woven jewelry, and pieces with intricate moving parts. My personal favorites are the earrings and pendants made of sea shells that have a tiny gold Buddha hidden inside.
Though he is no longer with us, Lou left a substantial body of work behind. We are thrilled to welcome Liz Marx, who manages his collection, to the Los Angeles shop for a very special trunk show. She’ll be bringing some of his most unusual pieces, including lots of gold items, and examples of his basketry and textile work. Please join us this coming Saturday for this rare event!