Mignon Faget (NC '55)

A legendary artist, jeweler, designer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Mignon Faget masterfully melds the distinct artistic processes of jewelry-making and sculpture.

Faget graduated from Newcomb College in 1955 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She credits her time at Newcomb under professors and mentors like Pat Trivigno and James Steg, as well as a class entitled "Design in Nature" taught by Robert Durant Field, for sparking her interest in environmentally-themed design.

Today, Faget’s name graces the storefront of three successful galleries, two in the New Orleans area and one in Baton Rouge. Her designs are strongly inspired by the culture and environment of Southeast Louisiana. Her collections include iconic Louisiana and New Orleans symbols such as red beans, king cake, snowballs, crawfish, honeybees, irises, Fleur de Lis, and more. She also designs non-jewelry items like ornaments, serving trays, coasters, and stemless glasses. Faget also created a custom Newcomb College collection, inspired by the famous oak trees that adorned the campus during her time as student, and its proceeds support the Newcomb Alumnae Association.

In the philanthropy sector, Faget is widely known in local art, preservation, and nature conservation communities. She raised over $150,000 in sales to support local artists and art organizations after Hurricane Katrina and contributed over $100,000 to aid recovery efforts after the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Faget continues to use her talents to design special collections that have raised thousands of dollars for local non-profits. She has designed uniquely inspired jewelry lines for many organizations, such as the Audubon Zoo, the Preservation Resource Center, and the New Orleans Museum of Art.

Her talent, hard work, and dedication to the city of New Orleans have not only established Mignon Faget as one of the most recognized and respected names in jewelry design in the South, but have also led her to be honored with several accolades, including Tulane's 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award.