Machi de Waard – portfolio

Contact the artist

http://www.machidewaard.co.uk

machidewaard [at] gmail.com

Meet the artist

Artist information

Machi de Waard is a designer/jeweller who has been making modernist jewellery in silver and gold in her studio in Reading, Berkshire for more than 17 years. In 2021, her book, written with fellow jeweller Janet Richardson, Silver Jewellery Making, was published. Combining her studio practice with teaching, Machi teaches jewellery making in Reading, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. In 2023, Machi was awarded a Masters in Jewellery and Metal from the prestigious Royal College of Art. In 2024, Machi received an award from the Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council for her work.

Exhibition information

Machi’s modernist jewellery aestethic is informed by the visual language of twentieth century modern art. Distilling the abstract forms and clean lines of modern art into her own self-imposed strictly limited palette, Machi’s work focuses on visually and physically strong shapes such as lines and circles. She finds creativity through restraint, making iterations of her chosen shapes and varying details. Machi has a drive towards design that is clean and crisp combined with a desire to push craftsmanship to higher levels. But it’s not all serious: a lightness of touch is present; perhaps an unexpected detail, a spot of optical illusion or a miniature scale to invite approachability. Although Machi’s work uses quite a formal visual language, there’s an edge of playfulness that entices the viewer to come closer, to interact with the pieces. These handmade pieces invite the viewer to handle them, feel their weight, touch their edges and explore their details.

As well as at Oxfordshire ArtWeeks, Machi’s jewellery can be seen at the Modern Art Oxford Museum, New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham, Henley Arts Trail, Whiteknights Studio Trail and online on her website.