Eric Olson has been making jewelry since his first college art class in 1989, but admits these first pieces were more experimental than wearable. These early pieces, however, created a spark of interest in artistic metalwork that changed his career course from computer programming to art metals.

In 1990 his pursuit of art led him to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for graduate school, where he learned skills and concepts from renown educators and artists Fred Fenster and Eleanor Moty. In particular, Eric’s innovative use of techniques employed by Fred Fenster in forming pewter gained attention, and being invited to co-exhibit in a “Masters and Protegés” exhibition was a highpoint of his college career.