Nanci Anne Modica was born and raised in the town of Manhasset on Long Island.
Nanci began to study jewelry making while still in high school, attending night and weekend classes at Parsons School of Design and Kulicke-Stark Academy in New York City where she studied under Robert Kulicke and Bessie Jamieson, owner of the Jewelry Arts Institute. In 1990 she began an apprenticeship in classical jewelry construction with Bessie Jamieson, who would become a lifelong mentor. Nanci’s work with Jamieson included assisting with demonstrations of ancient jewelry construction techniques during the “Greek Gold” exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1992. She also worked as a teaching assistant, demonstrating jewelry making at the Bard College graduate program and the World Gold Council.
After completing her apprenticeship in 1994 Nanci continued as a full-time instructor at Jewelry Arts until 2003 when she launched Lunula* Studios, located in the Soho District of Manhattan and specializing in high karat Classical and contem- porary gold jewelry. At Lunula Nanci collaborated with top goldsmiths to create pieces for galleries and private clients while continuing to teach and make jewelry on her own. Between 2010 and 2014 she partnered with jewelers Bikakis and Johns, with whom she shared a twenty year relationship.
After thirty-two years she continues to work closely with her mentor, Bessie Jamieson. Nanci is an avid cyclist and a found- er of the all female competitive cycling team Radical Media Racing. She lives in Hell’s Kitchen with her husband Jesus Perera and their awesome son Frankie.