Harriete Estel Berman uses post consumer, recycled materials to construct jewelry, Judaica to sculpture with social commentary. Berman's art work has been exhibited throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa. Her work has been acquired for the permanent collections of 16 museums including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Detroit Institute of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
All of my work uses post consumer materials destined for the landfill as a commentary about our consumer society. Despite the humble materials, my extensive crafts skills are the foundation for all my work. The materials are transformed by my intent and vision for this work.
Jewelry uses post-consumer recycled materials are not valuable, but reflect the values of our consumer society.
Judaica by Harriete Estel Berman focuses on the concept of Tikkun Olam "repair the world" with the use of post-consumer recycled tin cans.
Sculptures include domestic appliances remarking on the roles of women, the influence of advertising and commentary about our consumer society. Environmental commentary issues include the impact of lawns, and plastic waste in our oceans. Social commentary includes sculptures about our K-12 educational system and our corrupt government of lies.
Harriete in the Studio working on Climate Change 2024
Alpa Sheth and Harriete Estel Berman in the studio
Harriete Estel Berman on bicycle. 2023
Harreite Estel Berman cutting on black plastic 2021. Photo Credit Aryn Shelander.
Harriete Estel Berman in the studio 2009. Photo Credit: Aryn Shelander.
Harriete with family 2012
I am honored to receive the SNAG IMPACT Award for 2025. This award is given to artists in the ”hand crafted” jewelry/metalsmithing community that have demonstrated notable impact in the areas of socially responsible practices, sustainability, technical innovation, and creative innovation. Funding is thanks to the generous support from the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.
Below are the statements from the Jurors’s about my work and why I was selected for this award. I am honored by their words.
Click here to view Upcoming, Current and Recent Exhibitions
Interested in seeing my artwork in person? Want to come to an opening or lecture?
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Permanent Collections with Jewelry, Judaica or Sculpture by Harriete Estel Berman
Permanent Collections
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY
Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI
Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH
The Jewish Museum, New York, NY
Jewish Museum, Berlin, Germany
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis, TN
Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA
Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC
Temple University, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Yeshiva University Museum, New York, NY,
The Congregation Emanu-el, San Francisco, CA,
Artwork owned by a museum in the permanent collection is rarely on display. I have the great honor of having my Seder plate on view until 2035 at the Jewish Museum Berlin.
Visit My Studio
View current work in progress or make an appointment for a studio tour. Many of the artworks on this website include fabrication images in the studio.
Television on Line
San Mateo artist crafts pieces from recycled materials from KPIX CBS News
Loureen Ayyoub reports on a Bay Area artist, Harriete Estel Berman who makes art out of discarded tin cans and plastic food containers.
Jewelry artist Harriete Estel Berman segment from the JEWELRY episode on PBS
The JEWELRY program produced by Craft In America for PBS can be found on the Craft In America website and on the PBS webstie.
Lecture “Crafting Value & Identity”
Listen to this YouTube “lecturette by Harriete” Estel Berman about my work. Berman pushes the boundaries of jewelry making by using found and recycled materials to address social issues. She states, “I use the humblest of materials taken from the waste stream of our society to examine the values of our society.” Berman is featured in the JEWELRY episode of Craft in America’s PBS documentary series.
I regularly have been giving Zoom Lectures. The best way to find out about future lectures is to follow me on Instagram or subscribe to ASK Harriete. I am on Facebook too, but am almost past my limit.
Recent Books, and Magazines about my work.
ATELIERS D’ART Magazine included a bracelet by Harriete Estel Berman in a pictorial article about use of recycled materials. Winter 2025 I love the title “Bijou militant.” Purchase the magazine off their website.
Check out this feature article in Ornament Magazine from 2021
"Recycling, Consumption, Truth - Harriete Estel Berman" is the title of the article about my jewelry in Ornament Magazine. Read this thoughtful article by Glen R. Brown.
This issue can be purchased directly from the Ornament Magazine website. Click on the images to view a preview version of the article, There are eight pages of images and text including an Artist Showcase. Click here to view a scanned compressed article PDF for your convenience.
Selected books with images or information about my artwork.
Harriete Estel Berman has her jewelry, sculpture and Judaica in over 46 books including a whole chapter in the book, Manufractured: The Conspicuous Transformation of Everyday Objects, Makers: A History of American Studio Craft and the cover of The Fine Art of The Tin Can.
Click here for the full list of books including Harriete Estel Berman's artwork Click here for Archive of books, articles, publications and videos.
Makers: A History of American Studio Craft includes my artwork in this ground breaking survey of 20th century studio craft.
Manufractured: The Conspicuous Transformation of Everyday Objects This books has a whole chapter about my art work.
The Fine Art of The Tin Can is now a collectible book. The 2nd edition included an image of my teacups on the cover of the book.
Modern Judaica includes 250 pages of images and text about contemporary Judaica.
ZOOM Programs Online with Harriete Estel Berman
“Civil Rights and Body Politic” with Harriete Estel Berman, and Joyce Scott moderated by Cindi Strauss
Cindi Strauss, Curator of Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design at MFA Houston moderated this conversation that focused on the chapter “Civil Rights and Body Politics” from the historical jewelry book In Flux: American Jewelry and the Counterculture. Click on the title above to watch on YouTube.
This online Zoom conversation was co-sponsored by the Museum of Art and Design in New York City and Art Jewelry Forum.
This book was published December 2020.
Ornament Magazine & Craft Optimism Panel Discussion
Ornament Magazine and Craft Optimism Artist Webinar
This Craft Optimism panel was brought together by the Smithsonian Women's Committee and Ornament Magazine. We discuss recycled and repurposed materials in craft and jewelry, examine the issue of climate change for craftspeople, discuss the natural confluence of sustainability and craft. Watch this conversation from April 2021 with me, Harriete Estel Berman, Amy Flynn, Wayne Nez Gaussoin, and Holly Anne Mitchell. The panel was orchestrated by Twig Murry from the Smithsonian Women's Committee and moderated by Patrick Benesh-liu of Ornament Magazine.
Berman Fine Silverwork - using my metalworking skills for my own business & financial survival
I do all the silver repair and polishing myself with an eye for detail. It doesn't matter if it is silver plate or sterling silver, my goal is to do the best work possible.
Berman Fine Silvework silver repair and restoration is how I support myself.
Using my PUK-5 TIG welder, I can do silver repair and restoration in a completely new way. I plan on using this tool for my artwork as well.
Harriete Estel Berman working as a silversmith in 1983 at Peninsula Plating, Palo Alto, CA.
Secret Lifestyle
Hiking in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico was a memorable experience. It was a spiritual center for an ancient civilization. It is a World Heritage Site and Night Sky Preserve. Touring the architectural ruins was arduous, beastly hot, and dry. The mesa wall was possible to climb without climbing gear steeping over rocks and boulders in a steep crevice. You had to be in good shape and a little brave.
Can’t believe I am out on the streets protesting again. 2025
Political and social advocacy doesn't start or stop at artwork with social commentary. Here I am at the March for Science with my husband standing up to be counted. This sign ties into my recent artwork, TRUTH.
With the inauguration of president 45, I was appalled and disgusted. I worked constantly on this artwork Fabricating TRUTH about 45. It was featured on the local PBS station in San Franicisco and on CNN. Today, October 31, the House of Representatives voted to formalize the impeachment inquiry. I am so excited, I can’t think about anything else.
"Check It Out! Home Energy and Water Saving Toolkit" are available at City of San Mateo and San Mateo County Libraries. I came up with the title for this tool kit of energy saving tools. As a recycling evangelist since 1980, I drove my family nuts with ways to recycle, reuse, and repair.
I lead six exercise classes a week. Starting during the pandemic we moved outside for fresh air, clouds, open sky and invigorating workouts all year long. Your health is dependent of working out every day for physical and metal well being.
For Halloween exercise classes 2019 I dressed up as a web with spider.
Harriete Estel Berman dressed up in 1982 as the appliance lady holding the Appliances Sculpture "Eating Out off a Refrigerator". This is available as a life size photo for the exhibition of my artwork.
This is what Harriete looks like October 2023! Custom made mohawk helmet made by my daughter @goaryn for me about six years ago. It matches my new electric bike which you need for the gigantic hills around my house. Custom made earrings from a toy left at the street. Power necklace to match my bike holds the keys . Find me on Instagram.
ASK Harriete was my blog for more than fifteen years. Typepad (the host for my blog) has shut down. Time moves on and blog posts are out of style.
I have saved all the published posts and am in the process of updating this content. If you are looking for information about a specific post, please let me know. My guarantee to you is that I can publish a specific post or a related post from ASK Harriete. It just going to take a while to repost all the content.