Ela Bauer

The Artist’s profile

Ela Bauer, born in Warsaw in 1960 and raised in Israel, is a jewellery artist based in Amsterdam exploring the relationship between the human form and organic shapes. Known for her vibrant, colourful, sculptural designs made primarily from resin, textiles, and silicone, her work expresses movement, change and transformation. Bauer’s creations often incorporate semi-precious stones and other materials such as wool and coral. With her unique approach, she has gained recognition in prestigious museum collections, including the Rijksmuseum and Museum of Art and Design in New York.

The triggers to become an artist

Becoming an artist, designer, and maker wasn’t a clear-cut decision for me but rather a gradual process. Years ago, someone I was fond of was creating beautiful jewellery with just pliers and wire, and I was charmed by it. I joined him, which sparked my long journey with making, particularly jewellery. I later studied technical jewellery and attended the Rietveld Academy. My process reflects the belief that everything constantly evolves—nothing is fixed. It’s a continual unfolding of chaos into clarity, where sometimes, the right elements align, offering me a glimpse of a larger reality.

My process reflects the belief that everything constantly evolves—nothing is fixed. It’s a continual unfolding of chaos into clarity, where sometimes, the right elements align, offering me a glimpse of a larger reality.
by Ela Bauer

Environmental Concerns

Ela Bauer’s work addresses environmental concerns by reimagining the use of plastic. While the material is often seen as disposable and environmentally harmful, Bauer transforms it into precious, long-lasting art. By elevating plastic from a low-status, throwaway material to one worthy of art, her creations aim to foster a new perspective on sustainability—promoting the idea that beauty and longevity can be found in materials traditionally viewed as waste. Her work encourages a rethinking of how materials can be valued and preserved for future generations.

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Ela Bauer, born in Warsaw Poland, lives and work in Amsterdam.

Education & Activities

2022 Lecture and pannel-member at HNOSS jubileum exhibition and seminar, Göteborg, S

2020-present member and co-owner in The Pool, Amsterdam Jewelry collective

2019 (repeatadly through the years from 2010)– Workshops in the Jewish Museum, Amsterdam, NL

2016 Instructor Jewelry design at Wherelant Cultural centre Purmerend, NL

2014 External examiner final exams Jewelry dept. Rietveld academy, Amsterdam NL

2014 CONFRONTATIONS Workshop + lecture Academy of art & design, MAD faculty, Hasselt, BE

2014 Mentor at HANDSHAKE 2. Mentoring project for emerging NZ jewelley artists

2013 External examiner at the Bezalel Academy (Jerusalem) Final exams, direction fashion and jewellery design IL

2012 Visiting professor at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), RI, USA – Lecture Mass Art, Boston, MA, USA

2012 Workshop at Ecole de Joaillerie de Montreal, Montreal, CA

2012 External juror at the Bezalel Academy (Jerusalem) Final exams, direction fashion and jewellery design IL

2012 Speaker at Norton Museum, West palm Beach, FL, USA

2012 Master-class in ceramics with Daniel Kruger; European Ceramic Center, Den Bosch, NL 2005 ∙ Course 3D design program MoI3D 2012

2011 Guest teacher at the Maastricht art academy, jewellery and Product dept.

2005 – 2010 Co curator of the exhibition FIRST WE QUAKENOW WE SHAKE (Amsterdam, Tokyo, Munich, Bern, Stockholm, Mexico-city)

2010 Lecture in Museo Casa Brasileira, SP, in the context of Paralela (a design fair) – Workshop for professionals in Monteiro Lobato, BR

2010 Participation in the workshop FINGERMARKS in Pecs, HU, glove design.

2009 Workshop for professionals in Monteiro Lobato, BR

2009 Speaker at an international design symposium BoomSPDesign, Sao Paulo, BR

2008 workshop jewellery dept. Oslo National Academy of Arts, Oslo, NO

2008 Lecture at Gothenburg University, School of Design and Craft, Gothenburg, SE

2006 Jewellery-workshops for children of elementary school Westerpark, Amsterdam, NL

2006 Lecture at the Hiko Mizuno College of Jewellery, Tokyo, JP

1990 – 1995 Rietveld Academy, Jewellery dept. Amsterdam

1988 Technical School, Jerusalem, Jewellery dept.

1982 – 1987 The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Comparative Literature, Indology

A selection of exhibitions and group exhibitions are; 2024 SLOVENIAN JEWELRY WEEK With gallery House On Mars, Ljublijana, SI / 2024 DESIGN WITHOUT BORDERS Budapest, HU / 2024 HIGHLIGHT The Pool Amsterdam, NL / 2024 FRAME, with gallery Marzee, Munich, DE / 2024 COLLECT with Yeal Reisner, London, UK / 2023 OBJECTS BEAUTIFUL, with Yael Reisner, London, UK / 2023 GRASSIMESSE Art fair Museum for applied art, Leipzig, DE / 2023 25 YEARS GALLERY REVERSO, Lisbon, PT / 2023 DESIGN WITHOUT BORDERS Budapest, HU / 2022 SCHMUCK, Munich, DE / 2022 HNOSS jubileum exhibition and seminar, Göteborg, S / 2022 ARTWEAR group exhibition Vila Bengel, Idar Oberstein, DE / 2022 DESIGN WITHOUT BORDERS Budapest, HU / 2021 SCHMUCK, Munich, DE / 2021 COLLECT- Represented by gallery House on Mars, London, UK / 2020 gRAnd finale group exhibition gallery Ra Amsterdam NL / 2020 ARTWEAR group exhibition Vishal, Haarlem, NL / 2020 Work Presentation Gallery Marzee, Nijmegen, NL / 2020 HOPE Galeria Reverso, Lisbon, Portugal / 2019 SCHMUCK, Munich, DE / 2019 PALACE OF THE SHATTERED VESSELS, Gallery Froots, Shanghai, China / 2019 FRAME During Munich jewelery days, shown at Gallery Ra / 2019 5 JAAR HET KUNSTGEMAAL Kunstgemaal Bronckhorst, NL / 2019 Galeria Reverso, Lisbon, PT / 2019 Gallery Ra, Amsterdam, NL, / 2019 SHINING ON THE STAGE Dutch Spirit. NoCC, Siping SPace Shanghai, CN / 2018 3D PRINTED JEWELRY Gallery V&V Viena, AT / 2018 FASION. WOW! MODE ALS STATEMENT Kurator Barbara Putz-Plecko Galerie Freihausgasse, Villach, Austria / 2018 TRIPLE PARADE Biennale for Contemporary Jewellery, Shanghai, China / 2017 IF YOU CAN SEE IT IT’S NOT THERE gallery Kunstgemaal Bronkhorst, NL / 2017 ART ROTTERDAM represented by gallery Ra. Amsterdam, NL / 2017 FRAME represented by gallery Ra. Munich, Germany / 2017 SPRING MYSTERIES gallery Froots, Shanghai, CI / 2017 3d PRINTED JEWELRY Schmucktage gallery VundV Wienna, Austria / 2017 PEARL EXHIBITION Gallery Reverso, Lisbon, Portugal / 2016 20^th ANNIVERASRY Galley Noel Guyomarch, Montreal, CA / 2016 SOFA CHICAGO Represented by Galley Noel Guyomarch, Montreal, CA / 2016 Kuopio Art Museum, Kuopio, Finland (KORU5). / 2016 BEIJING INTERNATIONAL JEWELRY ART EXHIBITION Beijing, China / 2016 WCC-BF CHEMINS CROISÉS Mons, Belgium / 2016 Gallery Funaki MARI FUNAKI AWARD (work received High Commendation) Melbourne, AU / 2015 100 years Burg Giebichenstein, Halle, Germany(curator Daniel Kruger) / 2015 KORU5 – a traveling exhibition; Imatra Art Museum Vaasa Art Hall Finland / 2015 HANDSHAKE MENTEE MENTOR Avid gallery, Wellington, New Zealand / 2014 MARI FUNAKI AWARD Gallery Mari Funaki, Melbourne, AU / 2014 DUPLICATA a traveling exhibition; Gallery Noël Guyomarc’h, Montreal, CA / 2014 Velvet da Vinci San Francisco, CA, USA / 2014 Lab Design, Musée des beaux arts de Montréal, Des bijoux contemporains hors du commun / Remarkable Contemporary Jewellery commissaire : Noel Guyomarc’h / 2014 Beijing International Jewelry Art Biennale, Beijing, CI / 2014 DARE TO WEAR Coda museum Apeldoorn, NL / 2014 CHAIN REACTION Coda museum Apeldoorn, NL / 2014 BODY JEWELS Textiel museum Tilburg, NL / 2014 LA FRONTERA- a traveling exhibition. Art Gallery at Indiana University, Kokomo. / 2014 The Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, TX, USA / 2014 PRONKSTUKKEN Gorcums Museum Gorcum, NL