Kazumi Nagano was born in Japan in 1946. She graduated at the Tama University of Art, Tokyo, obtaining both a BA and an MA in art. Her jewellery career began ten years ago after having studied under Minato Nakamura. In 2002, she was awarded fine works prize in the Japan Art Jewellery Competition, Tokyo. She has taken part in numerous exhibitions and craft shows internationally, among which SOFA in Chicago and New York, several craft competitions and her work was selected to take part in Schmuck 2005 in Munich. Nagano is an artist reaching back to ancient traditions and reinterpreting these in a contemporary form. Her work is still very much influenced by Nihonga, a technique that she studied during her university years. This is a traditional Japanese painting technique involving the use of rock pigments deriving from natural minerals. She makes use of colour as she would in painting. Her pieces are very intuitive and are the result, at times, of a mere feeling. She employs the weaving together of strands of metal such as silver and gold and Japanese paper thread, to create different colour and texture patterns. The skilful use of this technique gives a refined quality to the pieces. Nagano conveys delicacy to her works by means of the creation of soft shapes. The suppleness of the pieces facilitates interrelation with the human body and makes them all the more appealing to touch.

Untitled bracelet, 2006, 18ct gold,10ct gold, nylon, silver, woven
Untitled brooch, 2006, 18ct gold,10ct gold, nylon, silver, woven
Untltled bracelets, 2006, Japanese paper thread, nylon thread, 18ct gold, 10ct gold, woven