The work

The gallery shows Jim Cotter's own jewelry and artwork. He has worked in jewelry since the late 1960s and is known for pairing gold, silver and diamonds with unexpected materials such as steel, concrete, river rocks and found objects. Each piece begins as a wax model and is cast by the lost-wax process in his studio in Minturn, so no two are the same.

Who runs it

Cotter now concentrates on making, while the gallery is led by his daughter, Ramsey Cotter, and a team of long-standing associates. His work is held in museum collections including the Georgia Museum of Art, the Racine Art Museum and the Korean Craft Museum.

Custom pieces

Commissions start with a consultation at the Minturn studio or by phone or video, followed by a wax prototype to try on before casting and setting. Clients often bring heirloom gold or stones to be reworked; the gallery uses recycled metal and offers both natural and lab-grown stones. Typical timing and starting prices are in the FAQ.

Care and repair

The gallery also offers cleaning, care and repair for jewelry, which is worth knowing if a Cotter piece bought years ago needs attention.

Sources: about the gallery, artist bio, customs, jcottergallery.com. Checked September 23, 2026.