Hope Olivant planned to major in fashion, but her journey at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts took a different look during her freshman year.
Exposure to metal and ceramic workshops and a basic art course inspired the Northern Virginia native to develop new interests, especially jewelry, sculpture, and crafts. In the same year she served as a tour guide for VCUarts, which also gave her many opportunities to imagine her possibilities.
“They have so much equipment,” Olivant said of the metal studio, which also emphasizes creativity and individuality. “You can see all the students’ work, and the fourth graders get to sit on the bench.”
But when the COVID-19 pandemic sent VCU students home, Olivant realized distance learning was not a good fit for her new craft/materials studies major.
“Being a jeweler requires equipment. You need a torch and a bench,” she said. “I didn’t know what was going to happen.”
Olivant took a year off and worked as a nanny for a family, but at the same time she created her own jewelry and developed an entrepreneurial flair.
“That year it was all baroque pearl necklaces and bracelets,” she says. “It’s a very simple design. I just wanted to sell and learn” – and after her gap year, she returned to class with a new appreciation for what VCU could offer. Her sophomore year helped hone her personal style and her technical skills in craft/material research.
“It’s about being a craftsman and an artist, but it’s about being an artist who does things right,” Olivant said of the class, which exposed her to metal as well as glass and clay.
Ollivant’s continued interest in craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and fashion was sparked during a winter study abroad trip to the University of the Arts London, when he connected with Clementine Bardot, a fashion student at the University of the Arts London. The idea came together when Of Fashion Graduate School included Olivant jewelry. Showcase during London Fashion Week.
And in February of this year, Olivant enjoyed her first solo exhibition at VCUarts’ on-campus gallery, Anderson. At the show, art in a variety of mediums, styles, and sizes, from jewelry to digitally enhanced posters, collectively told a story.
“It was primarily about connections with family, friends, and partners, and many of the symbols and icons were exaggerated, and the inevitable influence of media and pop culture on human connections, emotions, and culture was exaggerated. ” said Olivant, and the film focuses on animation powerhouse “The Simpsons” and their eccentric family.
“I have a really big family. I have six siblings,” she said. “So I’ve always been very interested in understanding people and making those relationships work. That has had a big impact on my work.”
Beyond the studio, a constant in Olivant’s VCU experience is Ink, a student-run digital alternative magazine focused on art, music, culture and fashion. She initially worked as a stylist, then she served as senior fashion director, and in her junior year she became editor-in-chief, a role she maintained into her senior year.
“This is my favorite thing about going to school here,” Olivant said. “It’s a professional learning experience. There’s nothing like it. A place where you can learn what you’re learning and have the experience of being at such a professional level and be surrounded by friends and amazing creators every day. There is nothing else.”
As she nears graduation, Olivant now dreams of working as a professional stylist or in a corporate or magazine fashion environment while continuing to create and sell jewelry and clay art.
“I feel like I found the perfect path for me,” Ollivant said of his VCU journey. “If you look closely, there are a lot of really niche things you can do to get exactly where you want to go. I just worked hard, kept looking for guys, and I found them.”
Subscribe to VCU News
Subscribe to VCU News at newsletter.vcu.edu and get hand-picked articles, videos, photos, news clips and event listings delivered to your inbox.
