Mignon Faget

Mignon Faget (born November 1933) is a jewelry designer based in her native New Orleans, Louisiana. Faget has long been acknowledged as one of New Orleans' premier designers of fine jewelry.

Her family settled in the city in the late 18th century after leaving Haiti. Painter Jacqueline Humphries is her daughter. Jewelry designer John Humphries is her son.

Early life and education Mignon Faget was raised in a Creole French downtown family in New Orleans, by her father, a doctor from the West Indies and her mother of French descent. Mignon Faget has a sister of 16 years her eldest and a brother of 9 years her eldest.

Faget attended the Roman Catholic Academy of the Sacred Heart as a young woman. She credits much of her talent to her years at H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College where she graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a concentration in sculpture. While at Newcomb College she studied under Jules Struppeck (1915–1993), Pat Travigno (b. 1922) and Sarah "Sadie" Irvine (1887–1970). Faget feels a course entitled "Design in Nature" taught by Robert Durant "Robin" Feild (1893–1979) had a major influence on her future career. She additionally studied at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris, the Parsons School of Design in New York and print-making at St. Mary's Dominican College in New Orleans. Her designs for Newcomb College feature the motif of the oak tree, a prominent symbol in the college's history. She has also designed jewelry for various New Orleans Mardi Gras krewes for their annual balls.

Inspiration Her jewelry is often inspired by her local environment, such as New Orleans architecture and culture or based on forms in nature. Faget describes her work as a "crossover between a jeweled accessory and a piece of jewelry". However, she has also made work drawing inspiration from man-made elements such as architecture and place-based culture.

Materials She fabricates in gold, sterling silver, bronze, precious, and semi-precious stones. She also designs items for personal and home adornment and gifts.

Philanthropy After Hurricane Katrina, her business raised over $150,000 in eighteen months, which she donated to artists and arts organizations. Similarly, after BP's Deepwater Horizon oil spill she raised nearly $100,000.

In fall of 2010, Mignon Faget was honored with a retrospective exhibit at the Historic New Orleans Collection entitled Mignon Faget: A Life in Art and Design. The exhibition opened at the Louisiana State Museum Capitol Park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, November 2011.

Accolades 2013: Honored as Forum35 Art Melt Louisiana Art Legend

2018: Tulane University Distinguished Alumni Award