Ayala Naphtali

Ayala Naphtali co-founder of Adornaxis is a NYC based metalsmith / jewelry maker with a studio in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

She began making jewelry as an early teen in NYC.  She studied Gold and Silversmithing at FIT and SUNY NEW PALTZ where she received her BFA.  Ayala was recently awarded as a 2021 Honoree by NYCxDesign.

Ayala’s work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally in galleries and museums shops and design stores. Her work has been collected privately, and in the permanent collection of Cooper Hewitt and Kunsindustriumuseum in Norway, The White House ornament collection. Ayala has exhibited in major national juried art shows such as American Craft Exposition in Baltimore, SOFA, Cherry Creek Arts Festival and numerous others annually.  Selected publications include American Craft Magazine, ELLE, The Fashions of The Times, The New York Times, Mademoiselle, Women's Wear Daily, Glamour, and New Women Magazine, New York Post.  Ayala has been a juror for The American Craft Council Craft Shows.

Ayala was an instructor at at the 92Y in NYC from 1987 -1998 and has taught numerous workshops.

In 2021 Ayala worked on  collaborative sound  installation piece exhibited with Dafna Naphtali for Harvestworks Art & Technology at Governors Island Art Exhibition.

I am intrigued with balance and proportion and feels that each of my pieces must find its axis on the wearer. I create work with elegance and minimal, bold forms.