Monika Brugger was born in Germany in 1958. She has been living and working in France since 1978. She began her studies at the Fachhochschule für Gestaltung and Goldschmied- und Uhrmacherschule, Pforzheim, then at the Académie des Beaux-Arts, Antwerp, Belgium and later obtained a Degree in Applied Arts, Faculté de Montpellier, Annexe Nîmes. She has also taken part in many workshops and specialisation courses. Since 1998 Monika Brugger has been head of the course on history of contemporary jewellery at AFEDAP, Paris and since 2002 she has been lecturer on the research course with Petra Dömling, Ecole TANE, Ploërmel, France and at the Museon Arlatan, Arles. She previously had been lecturer for contemporary jewellery courses at Le Arti Orafe, Florence, Hallam University, Sheffield, AFEDAP, Paris, Musée Réattu, Arles. Brugger's work can be seen in the following public collections: Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris - FNAC, Paris - Berner Stiftung für angewandte Kunst, Bern - Schmuckmuseum, Pforzheim - Special edition of jewellery for the members of Forum für Schmuck und Design. Her work was presented in Collect 2006 at the V&A Museum, London. It is evident when examining Brugger's work, that detail is of the utmost importance to her. Even the back of the brooches, the side that is usually "unprivileged", is executed with the greatest attention. The clasp of her brooches, for example, becomes the very essence of her piece, creating an intimate relationship with the wearer, as this remains the hidden side. Her latest pieces require the wearer to actually sew their own personal interpretation of a brooch onto clothing, by means of a golden needle and thimble provided by the artist, thus creating an active role and involving the person in the creative process.

Brooches, Silence, 1999, silver
Brooches, Nid, 2003, Silver, 18ct gold