Creative Couples: Peter Prip and Leslie Block- Prip, A Partnership Begun In Sterling Silver That Has Led To A Golden Life

By Judith Jenya

Peter Prip, a fifth-generation silversmith from Copenhagen, Denmark, and Leslie Block, a successful jewelry designer and fashion industry veteran, are a study in creative harmony. Their story, which began with a chance encounter and has blossomed into a 33-year marriage, is a testament to shared passions and the continuous evolution of artistic life.

Peter’s journey into the world of metal was almost preordained. His grandfather owned a silver factory in Copenhagen. His father, John Prip, was a trained silversmith who moved to the United States to teach at the School for American Craftsmen when Peter was 2.  John is one of the preeminent silversmiths of the 20th century, with works in many of  the major museums including the Smithsonian. John taught silversmithing at the Instituto Allende 43 years ago and brought his son with him.

As a young man at that time, Peter fell in love with San Miguel. "I became a silversmith because I didn't want to go shoot somebody in Vietnam," he candidly admits, explaining that a college deferment was his path to avoiding the draft. This pragmatic choice however, became a lifelong vocation. 

Peter went on to teach at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) for 30 years, honing his skills and influencing a generation of students. He was introduced to Leslie while teaching and working in the Rhode Island jewelry industry, by mutual friends who thought the two might hit it off. Although each knew of the other’s existence and lived only blocks apart, they had never met. Leslie had been divorced for a year and was rebuilding her life with her two young children. Peter was nearing 40 years of age and had never been married. The two shared common artistic sensibilities and as the months went by, a romance developed. Leslie had a real appreciation for Peter’s design and silver-making skills and Peter likewise appreciated Leslie’s talents. A new life chapter for both was born of mutual respect and shared interests.

Leslie’s own career was marked by a fierce entrepreneurial spirit. In the early 1970s, she moved to Rhode Island and began making jewelry. Eventually she founded her own business. "I snuck into the corporate offices of Saks Fifth Avenue because you couldn't get appointments," she says, recounting her bold approach. Her unique designs, which included matte black Teflon plated earrings, landed her orders from major stores like Bergdorf Goodman and Henry Bendel. After running the business for eight years, she sold it and transitioned to a career as a design director for companies like Chico’s, American Eagle, and Express, where she designed collections for a wide range of women.

The couple’s shared life includes Leslie’s two sons and grandchildren, and their daughter Lilith, now 31, who was also trained as a silversmith under Peter’s tutelage. However, their joint creative focus shifted significantly a few years ago. After moving to San Miguel, Peter decided to pursue a long-held artistic dream. Inspired by a trip to Oaxaca years earlier, where he was struck by the flat colors on the city's buildings, he began creating large-scale, dimensional sculptures. "I’m making a lot of work, more than I ever have. Been more productive in San Miguel than ever," he says. These pieces are not cast but fabricated from copper and aluminum, covered in watercolor paper, and meticulously painted. He is more interested in concept development now and his work utilizes lessons he taught at RISD.

His new work is a truly collaborative endeavor with his family. Peter relies on Leslie and Lilith for feedback on his creations. "She almost always has an opinion about what I'm doing at that moment, that at least gets me thinking," he says of Leslie's input. The sculptures are a departure from his detailed silversmithing, a creative pivot made possible by the support of his partner.

Meanwhile, Leslie continues to create jewelry. Her work is sold at local shows and in Mixta, a San Miguel shop. They both love San Miguel and their life here. Peter says: “I am completely satisfied with everything.” Their journey from Rhode Island to San Miguel is a testament to their enduring partnership, a life built not just on love, but on a mutual appreciation for art and the courage to continuously reinvent themselves, both individually and as a creative pair.