Panchita Carter
“My jewelry is my armor.” That’s how Panchita Carter described her work. She was unapologetic. She was bold. She was a voice unfiltered, a force of unscripted artistry. A master metalsmith, her torches were fueled by her passion, her solder fusing her spirit into every piece she crafted. Each design holds a unique story: the enduring power of a silver cuff embellished with protective turquoise or the delicate balance between fragility and fortitude realized in a ceramic flowerpot, its vulnerability contrasted by unbreakable metal blooms. Panchita’s work isn’t just jewelry; it is a call to embrace one’s own power, to wear the embodiment of hers and claim your own. She is in every creation, a timeless testament to resilience and creativity, a legacy of armor for generations to come.
Panchita Carter (1938-2016), a native New Yorker of Haitian Creole and Puerto Rican descent, was a self-taught jewelry designer and silversmith who was privately trained on Long Island by Ken Bogash. She created bold statement pieces, art to wear, using semi-precious metals and stones. Each of her pieces tells a unique story of strength and beauty. She received her BA from Hunter College and her MSW from Fordham University. She was inspired by her husband, the notable artist Robert Carter, to enter the creative field and they collaborated on several of her pieces. She went on to become the president of the Long Island Craft Guild and teach at the Long Island Art League for many years. She showcased her jewelry in craft shows primarily in the New York area, including NYC at Lincoln Center. In the early 2000’s, she and her husband were in a “Carter and Carter” museum show on Long Island. Her daughters Heather and Holly Carter are focused on preserving her legacy so that she continues to be a part of the art canon.
