Susanna Galanis was born in Macedonia Greece and raised in New York City. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with degrees in fashion illustration, fashion marketing and fur design. She then went to work in her family’s fur business, but soon left to manage the Versace boutique at Bergdorf Goodman and later the atelier in Manhattan’s Versace store. The late Gianni Versace and his work had a profound impact on Galanis when she began designing jewelry four years ago.

“Gianni’s creativity inspired me,” Galanis said. “He was inspired by history and the drama of the past. I relate to that.”

Galanis also can relate to Versace’s celebrity following which includes Cate Blanchett, Beyoncé Knowles, Paula Abdul, Selma Blair, Selma Hyak, Ashanti, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton, Ashley Simpson, Jessica Simpson, Kelly Carlson, Elizabeth Shue, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Hillary Duff, Joy Bryant, Sharon  Stone, Charlize Theron, Angie Harmon, Dianne Kruger, Emmy Possum, Amanda Hearst, Snadra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Karolina Kurkova, Orlando Bloom, Rick Fox and Colin Farrell.

Susanna Galanis creates bronze, brass and copper pieces, often combining semiprecious stones, objects and medallions, that are influenced by the Greco-Roman and medieval eras.