(b. 1985)
Aric Verrastro is a jewelry designer. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jewelry and Metals from Buffalo State College and is pursuing an MFA at Indiana Unverisity in Bloomington. His work reflects his concerns with gender equality and contemporary issues in gay culture. Verrastro's recent sculpted works known as G.E.M.s or Gender Equality Mascots are viewed as symbols of his commitment to raising awareness of human rights issues within the American LGBT community.