Andy Bugher began his career in jewelry while studying Fine Art at the University of Wisconsin, Stout campus. It was there that he made his first piece of jewelry, and he was immediately hooked. He loved the processes involved in working in metal: casting, forging, creating a piece with hammers, torches, and his bare hands.
After Andy finished college, he moved to Colorado and began apprenticing with a jeweler. He noticed that his environment began to influence his style. His jewelry had a rougher feel, incorporating different textures, non-traditional materials, and found objects. After he relocated to Minneapolis, his work evolved into a more polished, urban style, while still carrying themes from his mountain life. Andy’s jewelry became more refined, while still maintaining interesting textures and a unique handcrafted look.
Andy spent the next five years in an apprenticeship, designing for a Minneapolis jewelry gallery based in the Dominican Republic that catered to a large international clientele. He was exposed to and influenced by some of the top Italian, German, and Swiss designers.
All of his experiences and influences have inspired the evolution of his current modern style.