Ute Decker is the master of the sculptural jewel. “Art jewellery is the most intimate of artforms. It is through a process of experimentation, I discover what a piece is about,” reveals Ute Decker.
With experience in various media including larger scale sculptures but no formal jewellery training, Ute describes her process as more “like jazz improvisations – I am always open for the unexpected.” She begins “sketching” in garden wire – first miniature sculptures – only later does she decide for which part of the body.
Ute first exhibited her wearable sculptures in 2009 at the age of 40, quickly earning international recognition for the sweeping scale and originality of her minimalist sculptures. Today her pieces are in important private and museum collections, such as the V&A.
Ms. Phillips, jewellery curator, V&A, said of Ute’s work, “Like contemporary art, it’s jewellery that makes you think.”
This May 20 – 31, 2022, Elisabetta Cipriani Gallery in Mayfair who is renowned for her jewellery projects with renowned artists such as Ai WeiWei, is dedicating a solo exhibition to Ute’s work including the “Ocean” neck piece, the largest wearable sculpture she has ever created in Fairtrade Gold. Regular Goldsmiths’ Fair exhibitor, since 2011, is increasingly in demand; forthcoming events include her London Open Studios at Cockpit Arts, Design Basel, followed by Goldsmiths’ Fair 40th Anniversary Edition, September 27th – October 2nd, PAD London as well as Design Miami.
One of the first in the world to work with Fairtrade Gold, she uses her background in political economics, journalism, and linguistics to translate her knowledge and investigations into wearable art pieces.
