Aluminati: Students to Stars
Kara Ross

GIA Graduate Gemologist and acclaimed jewelry and handbag designer Kara Ross so charmed the fashion world with her sophisticated creations that First Lady Michelle Obama picked her earrings and cuffs to wear for the 2011 State of the Union address. Anne Hathaway, Cameron Diaz and Kate Hudson are just a few of the celebrities who’ve adorned themselves in Ross’s inspirations. Her work is featured at Boston’s prestigious Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York.
 
Ross’s designs were on display at the GIA Museum in Carlsbad in 2013. Ross is known for her use of gemstones, crystals, wood and other organic materials, as well as the custom pieces she created for Michelle Obama from a magnolia tree that had fallen near the White House.
 
The exhibit marked the launch of “Aluminati: Students to Stars” – a series that highlights the work of GIA alumni who are attaining success in the gem and jewelry industry.