Meet Niko Beth

We had the good fortune of connecting with Niko Beth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Niko Beth, what do you attribute your success to?
I think like most things in life, success all comes down to balance. Both joy and despair are integral parts of the human experience, and therefore entrepreneurship as well. Recognizing those peaks and valleys and learning to ride them out in stride; while knowing that everything is in flux and nothing is permanent is the key to true success. I try to have a pragmatic view of the future. When things are going really well for me, I honor that joy and make sure to relish it, but also keep in the back of my mind that joy is fleeting. The same goes for despair. Nothing is permanent…and that’s what makes the journey worthwhile. Recognizing and learning how to keep a proper balance of both light and dark is the key.

Please tell us more about your career. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’ve been metalsmithing on and off for almost ten years, seven of them consecutively. It has been a lot of ups and downs, or peaks and valleys as I prefer to call them. I definitely deal with a healthy dose of imposter syndrome, it’s a setback sometimes. I constantly question whether my jewelry is “good enough.” I learned recently that this is relatively universal feeling amongst creatives and that true imposters don’t experience imposter syndrome. This information doesn’t entirely quell the feeling, but it does remind me that I’m likely the only person holding a magnifying glass to my flaws and insecurities.

I overcome challenges by looking back at past struggles that seem inconsequential today and remembering that someday whatever I’m trying to overcome today will look the same with time. I remind myself of this regularly. It sounds silly but for example when I’m sawing through a sheet of silver and think “wow, I have so much saw work left to do”, instead of becoming exasperated at the amount of work ahead I look down at my silver and pay attention to how much sawing I’ve already accomplished.

To be honest, I don’t know if there’s necessarily something that sets me apart from others. If there is I think that answer is up to the people who choose to purchase my work and will probably differ from person to person which is a beautiful thing. Knowing that my work resonates with people for different reasons is more fuel for me to keep going. I just try to make things that make me happy to look at and in turn bring joy to other people. When someone buys a piece of my jewelry, they are in turn wearing a piece of my story. It’s my way of spreading my legacy.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’d start the day off by going to Little Ripper or Habitat Coffee, two of my favorite coffee shops in Glassell Park. Then we’d take a walk through the Huntington Library Botanical Garden in Pasadena, followed by pizza at Casa Bianca in Eagle Rock. We would definitely hit up a makers market or two (so many to choose from!) and it’s not a trip to LA without lunch at Grand Central Market in Downtown LA. I’m a big fan of Northeast Los Angeles and all of the hidden gems it has to offer.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I give a lot of credit to my parents. They have always believed in me, and have never tried to push a conventional lifestyle upon me. I’ve never wanted traditional things in life. I think they always knew I was the black sheep and instead of trying to change my wool, they taught me to embrace it. I recognize how privileged I am to have that type of support, and I am endlessly grateful for it.

Website: https://nikobethjewelry.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/niko.beth.jewelry

Facebook: https://facebook.com/nikobethjewelry

Image Credits
The portrait of me was taken by photographer Ren Adkins, and all of the jewelry photos were taken by me