ARTIST'S SPOTLIGHT - taia tasman

I discovered Taia’s work online a year ago, and to this day, I remain deeply impressed by her stunning creations. From the very beginning, it was clear how dedicated and passionate she is about her art. She has always been transparent about her use of AI, even when many chose to remain silent on the subject.

The integration of AI in art continues to spark debate, yet Taia has consistently demonstrated both her expertise and undeniable talent. With confidence and clarity, she explains the technology to those who struggle—or refuse—to understand it. As someone just beginning to explore this field, I look forward to learning more.

Art takes many forms, and creativity knows no boundaries—why should AI be any different? The key is honesty and education, helping others understand rather than fear innovation. What stands out most about Taia is her impeccable taste, her distinctive style, and her relentless work ethic. Not even the hardships of war have dampened her determination to create, despite the immense challenges she faces.

It is an absolute pleasure to support her and to share her breathtaking work with others.

TAIA TASMAN

Eliane says: “Write about yourself in the jewelry business.” Haha. Turns out it’s much harder to talk about yourself than about someone else. But okay, I’ll give it a try — no fairy-tale philosophy this time, and no résumé.

In 2016, I decided to create handmade jewelry. Naturally, I have to mention that creativity has been with me my whole life — otherwise, how else could I justify my amateurism? That’s it, all the romance ends here. For now, this journey still feels like swimming against the current.

Jewelry as a business grew from my personal search for pieces I couldn’t find on the Ukrainian market. So, I started working with jewelers to bring my sketches and ideas to life, initially just for myself. Over time, I began offering some of my pieces for sale.

I had no capital, no heirloom jewelry box from grandma, no special advantages or signs telling me it was the right time to start. On the contrary, I had a job in a completely different field and could only focus on jewelry when I switched to freelancing. In the beginning, my jewelry projects were funded by my salary and felt more like a hobby than a serious career path. That went on for several years. In 2019, I fully committed to jewelry. It became a time of careful experimentation in a minimalist, modern style.

By 2021, my creative preferences were gradually evolving. But instead of blindly experimenting, I decided to pursue an arts education — I felt I needed a stronger foundation. While researching European universities with distance learning options and figuring out how to restructure my life around it, 2022 happened. And those plans never came to life.

AI. If not for the circumstances, I probably wouldn’t have become so deeply invested in AI.

A surge of new opportunities and tools appeared precisely during the war, at the same time I was struggling with worsening joint issues. Exploring new forms became both a psychological escape and the only creative process that didn’t cause me pain or discomfort. Since I couldn’t engage in other activities like drawing or hands-on design work, I spent a lot of time experimenting with AI-generated concepts — and I truly enjoyed it.

My clients reinforced this new approach. As priorities shifted, and the overall mood of design changed, I let go of my old brand name, ivi jewellery, and embraced Tasman Jewelry Design. Instead of traditional sketches or collages, I started creating 3D jewelry designs using AI. This made the process faster and more effective. Not everyone understands raw sketches or technical drawings, and many clients feel more confident when they see a detailed visual representation of their idea before production begins.

The current reality, shifting priorities, and a reassessment of values have strongly influenced my style and creative vision. What I thought was important before 2022 may have lost its meaning entirely today, and vice versa. I’ve become bolder in trying new things. Of course, I have personal preferences, like any consumer, but a jewelry atelier is a different story — if I only showcased pieces I would personally wear, my collection would be much more limited. Instead, I present artistic jewelry — forms that resonate with me and that my team of professionals can bring to life.

On Instagram, I sometimes share my thoughts and experiences in the jewelry field, emphasizing the diversity of my work and always reminding people that this is a jewelry atelier. To me, that means versatility and creative freedom — no repetition, no routine. I want to create different pieces in different styles. Every client comes with a unique vision, and my job is to help bring it to life.

A few facts: Since the war began, all my longtime and regular clients have continued to support me with orders, and new clients keep surprising me. I'm deeply grateful to everyone for their kindness, courage, and trust during these times.

So, for now, I just keep going and learning. As for future plans — well, in this country, making plans is nearly impossible. Let’s wait for the war to end. Maybe it’s not too far off. Then we’ll see.