Twenty-three years ago, Lorraine West strung wire through a handful of beads and wrapped it around her wrist, studying it closely under a dim yellow light at her desk. Today, cameras flash and lights shimmer across a pair of her signature 14 karat yellow gold earrings accenting Beyoncé's pink, silky dress as the iconic singer-song-writer pauses tastefully for a photo. For Lorraine, working with metal and gemstones is like working with people. Each has its unique melting point; its own singular sensitivity. So whenever she's back at her desk in Brooklyn, carefully transferring one of her sketches onto sheetmetal under a dim yellow light at midnight, she thinks about her relationships as much as she does the material. She's an artist, a jewelry designer, a jeweler, a mother, a wife, and a black woman, and with loyal following including the likes of Serena Williams, Erykah Badu, Beyoncé and Alicia Keys, Lorraine West connects her clients to their own beauty and power. From 17 September to 10 October, Sotheby's is pleased to present West's work in Brilliant & Black, the first-ever selling exhibition dedicated to black jewelry designers, showcasing custom work from 21 of the world's leading artists.