Award-winning designer Robert Lee Morris has dominated the world of high-fashion jewelry and body ornament in America for more than three decades. Morris's strong yet graceful shapes recall artifacts of ancient and aboriginal cultures, transformed by his imaginative vision and fine workmanship into sublimely fluid, organic works. This engaging book-told in his own words and illustrated with eye-popping photographs of his innovative designs-provides a candid, insider's view of the fashion world, seen through the eyes of one of its genuine icons.

The first gallery to show Morris's work was New York's Sculpture to Wear, which offered one-of-a-kind jewelry by fine artists such as Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, and Man Ray. Today Morris's pieces are found not only at his own gallery in New York's SoHo, but also in the high-fashion collections of Donna Karan-for whom he created a signature look-and in jewelry stores throughout the United States. Robert Lee Morris is sure to appeal to jewelry lovers and fashion aficionados everywhere, and to have a powerful influence on the next generation of cutting-edge designers. AUTHOR BIO: Robert Lee Morris, a leading designer of jewelry and body ornament, is known for his one-of-a-kind pieces as well as his collaborations with such designers as Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld, and Donna Karan. He has received the Coty Award and two Council of Fashion Designers of America awards.

Acknowledgments

Foreword

By Donna Karan

Robert Lee Morris

By Teri Agins

Robert Lee Morris

By Scott Cusson

Formative Years: 1947-1972

An Expanding Career

Artwear: 1977-1994

Collaborations with Fashion Designers

Donna Karan

Inspirations

Beyond Jewelry

Reinvention

Philosophy

The Artist As Shaman

Plates

Index