Zoran Prvanovic does not look upon his career as a mere craft, rather he sees it as an outlet for creative energy, which he has plenty of. One glance at Zoran's jewellery is enough to make one realize that it is one of a kind. He utilizes his favorite medium, metal (mainly gold and sterling silver), to produce such unusual designs one would consider the jewellery to have been molded like a sculpture.

In His Own Words

Originally a sculptor, I decided 30 years ago to focus my energies on creating jewellery. To retain the essence of sculptural form, I chose sterling silver as the metal to work with. Its physical properties and relative low cost allowed me the freedom to create the elaborate pieces for which I was known during the 1980's.

Since then, my artwork has evolved into the clean, elegant and timeless pieces now characteristic of the Zoran Designs name. I have also expanded my medium of choice to include gold (yellow, white, and pink), platinum, as well as precious and semi-precious gemstones. Colour has thus been introduced into the element of design and has allowed me to broaden the scope and appeal of my jewellery.

On a final note, I would like to express that jewellery design and creation is not just my craft, it is my pleasure. After all, one must first love what he does before others can appreciate it. It is that appreciation that is the ultimate reward.

Personal

Zoran Prvanovic was born on August 2, 1942 in Zajecar, Serbia (former Yugoslavia).  He moved to Hamilton, Ontario in 1986 and became a Canadian citizen in 1990.

Education

Zoran obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Belgrade, which he attended from 1963 to 1967.

History of Employment

1997 - Present
Zoran opened Zoran Designs Jewellery Boutique in Hamilton, Ontario. He continues to participate in a small number of select art and craft shows each year.

1986 - 1997
Prior to opening his store, Zoran mainly sold his work at numerous art and craft shows across Ontario including "The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition", Windsor's "Art in the Park", Hamilton's "Festival of Friends", and "Fair November" organized by the University of Guelph.

1982 - 1986
Zoran established "Silver Art", his design studio in Belgrade from which he supplied a large number of reputable art and craft galleries throughout the former Yugoslavia.

1967 - 1982
Zoran was Chief Designer for IPM Majdanpek, a prestigious precious metals company known throughout Europe.

• Regional art exhibition organized by the Hamilton Art Regional Council and held at the Carnegie Gallery in Dundas, Ontario 
• Featured pieces from the "Memoirs" Collection

2000  "BEHIND THE GLASS"

• Bi-annual juried exhibition organized by the Metal Arts Guild of Canada; presented at select galleries in Toronto, Montreal, Sault Ste Marie, and Hallburton  
• Zoran received the President's Choice Award for "Mama's Jewel"

2000  "DESIGNER CRAFT 2000"

• Regional art exhibition organized by the Hamilton Art Regional Council and held at the Carnegie Gallery in Dundas, Ontario
• Featured  "Moonlight Helper" and "Great Anticipation"

1998  "IDENTITY"

• Exhibition organized by the Metal Arts Guild of Canada in collaboration with the Conseil des Metiers d'art du Quebec which visited galleries in five provinces
• Featured "Ramzes' Secret"

1990  "POINTS WEST"

• Regional art exhibition organized by the Ontario Crafts Council; and held at Glenhyrst Art Gallery in Brantford, Ontario

• Awarded the gold medal by the I.C.A.R. in the Maremoda Art Festival in Capri, Italy for excellence in Jewellery Art, 1976.
• Guest Artist in the "I Grandi Maestri in Oro" (Great Artists in Gold) Exhibition in Naples, Italy. Other participants were world famous artists Salvador Dali, Cagli, and Renato Guttuso with gold miniature reproductions of their original paintings.
• Received 17 awards for excellence in artistic design in the former Yugoslavia.
• Participated in international exhibitions in Italy, Germany, Belgium, Austria, former USSR, and Bulgaria.
• Held nine "One-Man" Exhibitions in Yugoslavia.
• Described in the Yugoslavian Encyclopedia of Art (Book 2 K-Ren-1987, p. 684)

info@zorandesigns.com

All images and text © Copyright 2007 Zoran Designs. All rights reserved.
Photography and site by Maja Prvanovic.