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Prolific jewelry designer John Brevard said it was a near-fatal childhood illness that led him to question the nature of human existence and its connection with the universe. Art and design would come to serve as an outlet for his self-expression, and Brevard’s visually engaging, cerebral and environmentally sustainable statement pieces embody the essence of 21st-century modernism.

Born in 1982 in Miami, Florida, Brevard had an intrinsic interest in nature and the arts as a child. However, at age 14, he contracted encephalitis and meningitis, leaving him comatose for several weeks. His recovery left him with a deep-seated desire to explore broad philosophical questions about human existence.

“There’s nothing more inspiring than the universe,” Brevard told Haute Living in 2014. “I’m influenced by realms of existence beyond our five physical senses ... alternate dimensions beyond our normal waking state consciousness.”

The experience, Brevard claimed, “served as the catalyst for his design philosophy and work ethic,” and he pursued a career in the arts, graduating with degrees in architecture and design.

In 2007, Brevard established his namesake brand. Its offerings included jewelry, accessories, handbags, shoes, furniture, art and more. He opened his first pop-up showroom in 2010 in Wynwood — an arts and culture district in Miami — where he displayed his visual art, which was listed in the Miami New Times’ “Best of Miami.”

Brevard launched his first luxury jewelry line in 2012 with fashion rings, pendant necklaces and cuff bracelets made of gold and silver, and embellished with precious stones. He opened his first permanent atelier and appointment-only showroom in Coral Gables the following year.

In 2015, Brevard opened his first flagship store in New York City and gained membership to the Council of Fashion Designers of America. He also launched Thoscene — a unique customization software that uses an astrological algorithm to create jewelry and accessories based on the time, date and location of a person’s birth.

Today, Brevard’s jewelry and other works can be found in galleries and retailers worldwide and have been featured in magazines such as Vogue, Forbes and Vanity Fair.

On 1stDibs, discover a range of John Brevard rings, necklaces, bracelets and more.