Thomas Mann

Born and raised in Northhampton, Pennsylvania Thomas Mann began working for a silversmith at the age of 16. His passion grew for making jewelry throughout high school; selling his own bangle designs to classmates for extra money. He attended college as a Physical Education student, but later changed directions and graduated with a degree in Performing Arts.

Tom moved to New Orleans in 1977 and opened Gallery I/O in 1988, where he not only features his own work, but also work of dozens of other artists. He has since also developed Studio Flux, which consists of traveling workshops, DIY jewelry kits, as well as books and DVDs.

Mann describes himself as an artist working in the medium of jewelry and sculpture. The primary design vocabulary which he employs in the making of jewelry combines industrial aesthetics and materials with evocative romantic themes and imagery. He calls this design system Techno.Romantic. Though it is not the only design mode in which he works, it is the one for which he and his work is best known.