River Gallery 15th Annual Jewelry Invitational Exhibition

Gold and silver rings and earrings on a white background

River Gallery's 15th Annual Jewelry Invitational Exhibition opening reception on Saturday, November 9th from 3-6pm.  I'm thrilled to have a special selection of my one-of-a-kind designs, including pieces exclusive to River Gallery, featured in this beautiful show.  

River Gallery offers stunning art treasures and this event is perfect for getting a jumpstart on your holiday gifting and wishlist crafting. This exhibition along with a stunning variety of artworks are on display throughout the holiday season.

River Gallery
19046 Old Detroit Rd
Rocky River, Ohio 44116
440-331-8406

River Gallery is dedicated to promoting and sustaining Cleveland area artists, and has established strong connections with local schools such as the Cleveland Institute of Art, Baldwin Wallace University, and Kent State University. A diverse range of artwork is showcased, including paintings, works in metals, blown glass, wood, ceramics, and jewelry fabrications.

Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

The creative journey of Michelle Pajak-Reynolds—from childhood spark to timeless, handcrafted treasures.

“My love story with jewelry began before I was born. My parents met across a jewelry counter—my mother, a jewelry department manager; my father, a police officer working loss prevention in his off-duty hours. That moment of serendipity set everything in motion.

By five, I was working on my first designs in pop-beads and jelly bracelets, completely captivated by Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman—especially those iconic power bracelets and her gleaming tiara. I didn’t want to just wear magic, I wanted to make it. With babysitting money and a fierce sense of purpose, I bought beads and wire from the local craft store and taught myself the fundamentals. That curiosity turned into a calling.

I took my first metalsmithing class in high school and never looked back. I went on to earn a BFA in Jewelry/Metals from Kent State University and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Baldwin-Wallace University—equipping me to build a business rooted in craftsmanship, creativity, and soul.

Since founding my namesake jewelry company in 2001, I’ve focused on creating meaningful, one-of-a-kind designs—each one handcrafted using traditional metalsmithing techniques and ethically sourced materials. My work is intimate and intentional: forged in fire, shaped by hand, and designed to stir something deep within you. Every gemstone, every metal, every story that inspires a collection is carefully chosen, researched, and refined. This is slow jewelry with a purpose: to help you mark what matters most.

My pieces have graced red carpets at the Emmy Awards, runways at New York Fashion Week, and exhibitions around the world—including aboard the United Nations Peace Boat. Collectors, stylists, and editors seek out my work, but what means the most to me is when a client says, “This feels like it was made just for me.”

Because it was.

Jewelry, to me, is personal mythology made tangible. It’s a way of preserving the past, celebrating the present, and passing something meaningful into the future. So when you open your jewelry box, you're not just looking at beautiful objects—you're holding pieces of your life’s story. And maybe, just maybe, you're beginning a new chapter.” - Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

michellepajakreynolds.com
Previous
Previous

Wickedly Good Jewels

Next
Next

The Elementals Collection: Chapter One - Fire