MÄRTA MATTSSON
Sweden

🎉 31/12/1982

EDUCATION

2008-10 
-Royal College of Art
GSMJ Department, London, MA

2005-08 
HDK- School of Design and Crafts 
Jewellery art, Gothenburg, BA

2007  
Rhode Island School of Design
Exchange program at the jewelry department, 1 semester

2006  
Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry
Exchange program 1 semester, Tokyo

2004  
HPU- Hawaii Pacific University 
Exchange program 1 semester
Jewellery design, Textile design, Drawing

2003-05 
HD- Hantverk och Design på Nääs fabriker
Silversmithing and jewelry design

MEET THE ARTIST

Do you remember the first piece of jewellery you ever bought or collected?

Yes I do! When it comes to art jewellery it was a ring made with resin, agat and pearls made by a duo called Body Politics. I bought it for my very last money at Ornamentum Gallery in Hudson New York back in 2007. Its a mysterious ring that looks kind of like an artefact made by an alien. The resin, pearls and stone just blend into each other creating a weird little mysterious creature artefact. Its amazing and I am really happy I bought it!

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting to collect jewellery?

Buy with your heart and gut! If you fall in love with the piece go for it! Money comes and goes but the pieces you collect are yours to treasure forever.

Do you wear jewellery every day? Why or why not?

Yes! I always wear at least one ring and usually a pendant too. If I am going out I wear more. I love wearing huge statement pieces!

What music is usually playing in your studio?

I love music! I listen to everything from dancehall if I need the energy to old classic opera. If I am tired in my brain and need to concentrate I just listen to bird noises or rainforest sounds. My mood will set the tone.

Which detail do you pay obsessive attention to?

The seams between different materials. I really want my pieces to look like they are made by mother nature and not my human hand. Like they somehow could have been found like that in nature without human interference.

Which part of your creative process do you tend to put off?

Polishing… I hate it.

Which materials or techniques would you still like to explore?

More flameworking and different glass techniques.

What is the most unexpected material you have ever incorporated into your work?

Gallbladder stones…

Which moment in the making process gives you the greatest sense of satisfaction?

When a new idea arises! My ideas usually come to me when I am out walking my dog.

AWARDS

  • 2026 KHV- Konsthantverkets vänner. Kulturstipendium, Västra Götalandsregionen
  • 2016 Young Applied Artist 2016. Bengt Julins Fund, administered by the Friends of Nationalmuseum
  • 2014 Nominated for the Swedish Award ‘DesignNU’ by Formmuseets Vänner
  • 2013 Award of Excellence. ‘Pushing Boundaries & Chasing Challenges’ 2013 Beijing 
    International Contemporary Metal Art Exhibition.
  • 2012 Talente Prize. Handwerkskammer für München und Oberbayern
  • 2010 Overall Excellence award, 1st prize, Theo Fennell, London 

WORK IN COLLECTIONS

  • Schmuckmuseum in Pforzheim 
  • Röhsska Museum Göteborg
  • China Academy of Art, Hangzhou
  • Nationalmuseum, Stockholm
  • Royal College of Art, London
  • Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry, Tokyo
  • Galerie Marzee, Nijmegen
  • Galeria Sztuki W Legnicy, Poland
  • GRASSI Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Leipzig
  • Town of Cagnes-sur-Mer, France
  • MAD, Museum of Art and Design, New York
  • Museums für Naturkunde Chemnitz, Germany
  • The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
  • RAM, Racine Art Museum, Wisconsin
  • Alice and Louis Koch Collection, National Museum, Zurich
  • Malmö Konstmuseum, Sweden
  • RIAN designmuseum, Falkenberg
  • Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Canada

FUN FACT

I started working with insects because I suffered from a phobia of insects. Through a sort or cognitive behavioural therapy I have managed to become less scared of insects by working with them and giving them a new life, a rebirth, as pieces of adornments. The therapy has really helped when it comes to working with real insects but I am still very scared of other creepy crawlies like maggots and slugs. Therefor if I do work with them as a theme in my art I create them in materials like clay and glass instead of using their own bodies. I am still very squeamish to a lot of things and I am also a vegetarian.