Leo Genkin

Teaches at 92nd Street Y

Leo Genkin was born in Moscow, Russia (1956). At the age of 17 he began creating jewelry under the guidance of a well-known filigree master, George Vasilyev. In 1976, Genkin dropped out of Commerce School of Design to dedicate his life to jewelry and attend Moscow's Jewelry Art School. He completed his studies after his time in the Russian army. By 1980 he began working in a state jewelry shop.  

Our master goldsmith obtained the highest professional state ranking for goldsmith in 1986 and opened his own special order jewelry business called Pearl of Russia. He won a contest for his crown design for the first Miss USSR Pageant in 1989. In 1990 and 1991 Leo continued to make crowns for miss USSR. In 1991 he made the crown for the first Miss Russia contest. Leo has made over 50 works of jewelry for various Regional Beauty Contests. After his immigration to United States in 1992, he completed several courses at Fashion Institute of Technology's Jewelry ...