The works of internationally renowned jewelry designer Paula Crevoshay have captivated hearts for decades, from jewelry connoisseurs to celebrities and amateur gem buffs. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science will showcase a curated collection of Crevoshay’s stunning nature-inspired creations when The Shape of Matter – Through An Artist’s Eye opens Oct. 21. The special exhibit runs through April 20, 2022, and is included with general admission.

As part of the Perot Museum’s commitment to create compelling content that inspires minds through nature and science, this exhibit provides an innovative look at how nature and art intersect.

In addition to approximately 70 pieces, including a world museum debut, The Shape of Matter – Through An Artist’s Eye will include loose gems and minerals, all displayed within their respective crystal systems. The exhibition illuminates the link between minerals, gems and jewelry while providing a path to learn more about intricate crystal structures.

“We are so pleased to spotlight not only this majestic collection of jewelry but the woman and science behind it,” said Kimberly Vagner, director of the Gems and Minerals Center of Excellence at the Perot Museum. “Paula is an esteemed designer whose deep roots in nature have inspired her creations. The Shape of Matter – Through an Artist’s Eye is another example of how science and art connect. Guests will be drawn in by the beauty and vibrancy of her jewelry and leave with a better understanding of crystal formation.”

On view in the Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall, the exhibit includes the museum debut of Sea Star (spinel, sapphire, ruby and amethyst), alongside Orchidelirum (apatite, zircon and iolite); Eden (kunzite, ruby, rubellite, amethyst, diamond and sapphire); Le Fleur De Rêves (moonstone, opal, spinel and sapphire); April (diamond and emerald); and Peacock (opal, sapphire, diamond, emerald and apatite).

Additional exhibit highlights include Fleur D’Amour (spinel, diamond and tsavorite); Penguin (diamond, moonstone, opal); Anemone (sphene, opal, zircon, sapphire, tsavorite, apatite); Verdant Earth (green beryl, tourmaline, demantoid, diamond); Tears of the Goddess (peridot, rubellite, tsavorite, apatite, sapphire); The Wave (tanzanite, diamond); Eye of the Feather (zircon, opal, diamond, apatite, tsavorite); Asherah (zircon, diamond and tourmaline); Bonita Linda (turquoise, moonstone, zircon); True Blue (zircon, opal, tsavorite, apatite, kyanite); Jingu in Regalia (agate, diamond); Indigo (opal, apatite, iolite, tanzanite, tsavorite, sapphire, amethyst); and more. All pieces are 18K yellow gold.

“When the Perot Museum invited me to mount an exhibition of my work, I already had an idea for the theme,” said Crevoshay. “Matter in the solid state is crystalline; that is, the atoms are arranged in a specific pattern that is repeated over and over. What some people don’t know is that crystals have one-, two-, three-, four- and six-fold symmetry. These symmetries define the seven crystal systems.”

“I thought it would be fun and educational to arrange the jewels according to the system that the major gem comes from and display them with mineral specimens from that system,” adds Crevoshay. “Many people find the beauty of jewelry, gems and minerals to be mesmerizing. I hope the added context of the science will deepen their appreciation.”

Since 1981, Crevoshay has designed unique jewelry pieces that have been exhibited at the Gemological Institute of America, The Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the National Gem Collection at the Smithsonian Institution and more. Her modern designs have evolved over the decades and are celebrated by everyone from art and jewelry aficionados, to superstars and socialites.

Like generations of artists before her, Paula Crevoshay is fascinated by nature. In her bio, she notes “that the sense of wonder in the face of nature inspires both art and science. In fact, there was no distinction between art and science prior to the Renaissance when artists like Leonardo da Vinci took the baton from their forebears and helped lay the groundwork for what would become many different fields in science and engineering.”

“I have admired Paula’s work for decades and we are thrilled that the Perot Museum of Nature and Science has recognized her creations as worthy of her own exhibition,” remarked Richard D. Eiseman, Jr., president and CEO of Eiseman Jewels. “In conjunction with the exhibition we have worked collaboratively with Paula, and we look forward to revealing a curated selection of her new designs at Eiseman Jewels NorthPark Center.”

From a young age, Crevoshay has been absorbed with understanding the properties and techniques of her materials. She maintains that a deep knowledge of science is necessary to create fine art masterworks. In The Shape of Matter – Through an Artist’s Eye, Crevoshay uses art to explain basic concepts of gemology and crystallography, while transforming minerals into complex works of art.

TICKETS. The Shape of Matter – Through an Artist’s Eye is included with Museum general admission, which is $20 for adults (13-64), $13 for youth (2-12), $18 for seniors (65+), and free for members. Admission for children under 2 is free.

The Perot Museum is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas, Texas. For parking information and other details, visit perotmuseum.org or call 214-428-5555.