Asagi Maeda
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ASAGI MAEDA
b. Japan
Wear a dream, a city, a story — Asagi Maeda, a passionate metalsmith, meticulously constructs sculptures that are also jewelry. Fashioned from wood, plexi, resin, enamel, silver, gold, semiprecious and precious stones, the work is engraved and enameled by the artist with thoughtful narratives about family and society.
Statement
I create an imaginary world with my jewelry, fabricating images of an inner world that is everywhere, encompassing people living in apartments, the inside of the ocean, or the story in a daydream. I am especially intrigued by city life, where buildings have windows that reveal individual lives, where simple, everyday questions, feelings and thoughts are swallowed up and tossed out in the whirlwind of day-to-day living. In my jewelry I try to reflect all of these observations. I use metal to sculpt minute details of a big life, creating individual homes for ideas.
Selected Collections
- The Museum of Arts and Design, New York City, NY
- The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
- Numerous private collections throughout the United States and internationally
Beyond Brilliance
@ The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Asagi Maeda’s neckpiece, Train Story is currently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston as part of Beyond Brilliance: Jewelry Highlights from the Collection in the Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan Family Foundation Gallery.
Beyond Brilliance celebrates “the universality of body adornment throughout the ages and across cultures, this newly renovated gallery presents highlights from the MFA’s renowned jewelry collection. From ancient artifacts to fine jewelry to designs made by contemporary artists, the presentation connects objects that span 4,000 years by exploring how jewelry can communicate strong messages about its wearer and exemplify the art and culture of its time.”
The Sketch Project – Non-fiction Jewelry
To coincide with her exhibition at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Maeda Asagi is working on a special project, creating “Non-fiction jewelry” based on the stories, memories and experiences of clients. For more information about this special project, please click here.
Shop Asagi Maeda’s “Lunch Specials” on The Design Store
It was the artist’s wish to make her works more affordable and she thought of the popular Lunch Specials offered in various restaurants in Tokyo. Patrons can purchase an inexpensive meal, consisting of an appetizer, 2 courses, and dessert, for a fraction of the dinner price.
Maeda’s design for the “Lunch Specials” are all hand fabricated by the artist, displaying her metalsmith skills and each has its on story to tell.