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Lisa Bayer, Illustrator and Beloved Member of the Muse Family, Dies at 64
Bayer, founder of Lisa Bayer Designs, is remembered as “a bright light in every room.”
Lisa Beth Bayer, founder of Lisa Bayer Designs, died March 18 at age 64. A jewelry sales expert and illustrator who specialized in jewelry-related trinket trays and prints, Bayer’s work was an expression of her thoughtful and artistic spirit. (Photo courtesy of LisaBayerDesigns.com)
Editor’s Note: This story was updated post-publication to include information about a GoFundMe started to raise money to support Lisa Bayer’s son, Luke.
New York—Lisa Beth Bayer, the artist behind @sketchnyc and a member of the Muse family, died suddenly on March 18.
She was 64.
Bayer was born April 17, 1961, in New York City, according to her obituary.
A beloved mother, daughter, and friend, Bayer’s path reflected determination and purpose from the start.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University in Boston and went on to become a jewelry designer and illustrator, with work spanning from wall art to glass trinket trays.
According to the website for her company, Lisa Bayer Designs, her illustrations were heavily influenced by fashion and design.
They are recognizable for their exaggerated style, use of color, and joyful nature, and Bayer shared them via her popular Instagram account, @sketchnyc.
Bayer also held various jewelry sales positions throughout her life, most recently as Muse’s sales specialist, according to her LinkedIn profile.
New York—Lisa Beth Bayer, the artist behind @sketchnyc and a member of the Muse family, died suddenly on March 18.
She was 64.
Bayer was born April 17, 1961, in New York City, according to her obituary.
A beloved mother, daughter, and friend, Bayer’s path reflected determination and purpose from the start.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University in Boston and went on to become a jewelry designer and illustrator, with work spanning from wall art to glass trinket trays.
According to the website for her company, Lisa Bayer Designs, her illustrations were heavily influenced by fashion and design.
They are recognizable for their exaggerated style, use of color, and joyful nature, and Bayer shared them via her popular Instagram account, @sketchnyc.
Bayer also held various jewelry sales positions throughout her life, most recently as Muse’s sales specialist, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Her talent and dedication were part of what made her so special to family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing her, her obituary states.
“I met Lisa in 1999 on a subway platform, bonding over an evil eye pendant—and that was who she was. She could turn even the smallest moment into a meaningful connection, especially when that connection was based on a beautiful piece of jewelry,” Jennifer Shanker, founder and CEO of Muse, said in an email to National Jeweler.
“She brought warmth, intuition, and care to everyone she encountered, and her impact on Muse and our community is immeasurable. Lisa was a creative, one-of-a-kind bright light who was dearly loved and who will be deeply missed.”
In an Instagram post, Shanker wrote that following Bayer’s sudden passing, she has spoken with many in the industry who described the artist as “a bright light in every room” and “one-of-a-kind special.”
Editor Sasha Charnin Morrison remembered her friend on Instagram with a quote from the Stephen King short story “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.”
She also wrote, “She was a massive talent and one of the nicest, caring, giving, people that walked the earth. May her art, her spirit, her dirty mouth, humor, and her joy continue where she’s headed now.”
Elizabeth Bonanno of The Gems Project shared on Instagram, “I keep reading through all our texts, refusing to believe what’s happened. All our plans thwarted by fate. You were more than a friend, you were family.
“Keep a watchful eye over us, Lisa. I expect we will hear your laughter in the wind. Godspeed.”
Bayer is survived by her mother, Pamela Schoolman, and her 22-year-old son, Luke Bayer. A GoFundMe has been launched to help Luke cover immediate living expenses and build a financial foundation for his future.
She was predeceased by her father, Marc Stuart Bayer, and her brother, Clifford Bayer.
A graveside service was held at Mount Eden Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York, on Sunday.
“I met Lisa in 1999 on a subway platform, bonding over an evil eye pendant—and that was who she was. She could turn even the smallest moment into a meaningful connection, especially when that connection was based on a beautiful piece of jewelry,” Jennifer Shanker, founder and CEO of Muse, said in an email to National Jeweler.
“She brought warmth, intuition, and care to everyone she encountered, and her impact on Muse and our community is immeasurable. Lisa was a creative, one-of-a-kind bright light who was dearly loved and who will be deeply missed.”
In an Instagram post, Shanker wrote that following Bayer’s sudden passing, she has spoken with many in the industry who described the artist as “a bright light in every room” and “one-of-a-kind special.”
Editor Sasha Charnin Morrison remembered her friend on Instagram with a quote from the Stephen King short story “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.”
She also wrote, “She was a massive talent and one of the nicest, caring, giving, people that walked the earth. May her art, her spirit, her dirty mouth, humor, and her joy continue where she’s headed now.”
Elizabeth Bonanno of The Gems Project shared on Instagram, “I keep reading through all our texts, refusing to believe what’s happened. All our plans thwarted by fate. You were more than a friend, you were family.
“Keep a watchful eye over us, Lisa. I expect we will hear your laughter in the wind. Godspeed.”
Bayer is survived by her mother, Pamela Schoolman, and her 22-year-old son, Luke Bayer. A GoFundMe has been launched to help Luke cover immediate living expenses and build a financial foundation for his future.
She was predeceased by her father, Marc Stuart Bayer, and her brother, Clifford Bayer.
A graveside service was held at Mount Eden Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York, on Sunday.
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