meet the artist
kelly lannen
Kelly Lannen is the artist, designer and goldsmith at 12th HOUSE.
She believes that the mystical resides in us all. Connecting with our magic is a powerful daily ritual. This connection can be strengthened and amplified with the daily ritual of wearing jewelry, one of the most ancient forms of human expression.
The inspiration for her design work is drawn from a deep well of art history and love of learning new languages, most recently the language of astrology and the cosmos.
"12th HOUSE specializes in the soulful side of jewelry. Their designs thrive in the meeting point between aesthetic beauty and symbolic meaning, a pairing that is executed to maximum effect in the brand’s new Midheaven engagement ring collection... "
"... Inspired by magic and sacred geometry, the distinctive designs feature stepped bezels, unexpected angles, and compelling contrasts sure to appeal to the customer who wants something that’s different but still stunning. "
about the artist
A lifelong artist, Kelly studied Fine Art at University of Michigan and was a double major in the School of Art and Design as well as the school of Literature, Science & the Arts with an emphasis in French language and literature.
Upon graduating with her BFA, she was awarded a scholarship to study Sculpture at the prestigious New York Academy of Art, co-founded by Andy Warhol. Her MFA sculpture thesis project won the Brady Travel Grant for Artistic Excellence, and she was selected to compete in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Sculpture Contest.
From painstakingly restoring the private Cast Antiquities Collection at the New York Academy of Art, to working as an assistant sculptor to Jeff Koons, these experiences have honed her hand skills and sharpened her eye for design, detail and proportion.
In her 19 years of working and living in New York City, Kelly had the privilege to work with numerous exhibiting artists and exhibition projects, as well as completing a goldsmithing apprenticeship and graduating from the GIA with her A.J.P. diploma.
new york city
2002 MFA ANTIQUITIES RESTORATION
The renowned Cast antiquity collection of plaster replicas owned by NYAA had extensive damage due to flooding. Kelly was selected as a student within the MFA program to restore and resculpt missing pieces.
the original
MOON PHASE RING
In 2012, Kelly created her first jewelry collection in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. One of her first designs was the Bisclavret Moon phase Ring, depicting a distinct pattern of mirroring crescents with a diamond 'moon'.
That iconic Moon phase ring was first of it's kind, and quickly became a 'must have' ring - putting her fledgling brand on the map.
formally engaged
MIDHEAVEN COLLECTION
Years of designs culminated in the Midheaven Collection, the full expression of the 12th HOUSE vision of mystical fine jewelry.
FROM FINE ART TO
FINE JEWELRY
CONNECTING FINE ART, MYSTICISM AND ADORNMENT
12th HOUSE is an independant design house founded by the artist Kelly Lannen, MFA AJP.
Her fine jewelry collections are born from her love of art history, a passion for reclaiming personal mysticism, and facsination with ancient human symbolism.
Each piece of jewelry is crafted with recycled precious metal alloys and ethically sourced gemstones, created as a vessel for the wearer to pour their magic into.