Spada was born in New Britain, Connecticut and grew up in Berlin, Connecticut. He attended Parsons School of Design in New York City, graduating around 1982. He began making jewelry as a student, and his works were recognized as early as 1984, when a piece made from orange rubber tubing was highlighted in the New York Times.
Career
He eventually opened a boutique, Casa di Spada, in New York's Lower East Side, which sold his jewelry designs, clothing and custom items; Spada's works were also sold through other outlets. Independently and with his close friendKeith Haring, Spada designed and fabricated several costumes, headdresses and accessories for Grace Jones that were worn by her in performances. Some of these pieces are documented in photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe in which Jones's body was painted by Haring. Spada collaborated with designer Patrick Kelly on a jewelry line for Kelly's 1986 collection. He also worked with Kelly on one of Kelly's most famous couture works, a 1986 Josephine Baker-inspired banana skirt and top originally modeled by Pat Cleveland, now in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Spada designed the jewelry and accessories for the movie Vamp in 1986. In the 1990s, Spada's designs began to move beyond jewelry and accessories. He created large-scale hanging decorations over the staircase in New York City's Palladium nightclub that the New Yorker described as "lustrous David Spada stalactites." A decorative screen he designed is highlighted in a 1998 book on decorating. In 1991, Spada developed Freedom Rings, sets of six aluminum rings in colors based on the gay pride flag that he described as symbolizing happiness and representing the diversity of the gay community. They were originally sold as a fundraiser for the 1991 San Francisco gay Freedom Day Parade and quickly became a national trend. In June 1992, several of MTV's on-air hosts wore Freedom Rings in recognition of gay pride month, elevating their visibility. By mid-1992, Spada claimed to have sold 60,000 sets. Also in 1992, Freedom Rings were featured in the first gay-specific Absolut Vodka ad, entitled Absolut Spada. Spada died of AIDS complications on May 13, 1996.
Material and cultural impact
Spada became especially known for his work in colored anodized aluminum, crafting a wide array of forms from the material, ranging from rings and earrings to clothing and swimwear embellished with aluminum decoration. The different colors represent the diversity of people. His aim was for people to wear his designs as a universal pro-tolerance statement.
