The Artist’s profile
Jana Machatová is a Slovakian jewellery artist whose work explores both personal and societal cultural memories, incorporating found objects, family photographs, old newspapers, and postcards. She seeks to bring these memories back to life, aiming to build a temporal bridge between the past and the future through her pieces. Her ‘Frauen Fleiss’ collection draws inspiration from early 20th-century German magazines dedicated to women’s needlework, particularly those containing intricate designs for embroidery and home crafts. These magazines, often connected to the feminist movements of the time, offered women a socially acceptable means of creative expression. Through her work, Jana contemplates the quiet yet powerful impact of this seemingly private art form, which was used to construct safer and more meaningful domestic spaces. . Jana uses materials such as epoxy resin to preserve the delicate nature of these historical memories, allowing the translucent designs to evoke a sense of permanence and fragility simultaneously. Her work also evokes the aesthetic of Art Nouveau, combining elements of nature, the decorative, and the intimate to create jewellery.
She completed her doctoral studies at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava and a diploma at Muthesius Hochschule in Kiel, Germany. She has exhibited her work in numerous solo and group exhibitions internationally, including in Slovakia, Austria, Italy, and Germany.
The triggers to become an artist
I became an artist through my early experience at an elementary art school, where I explored various fields of visual art. With the support of my parents, I chose to pursue art further, attending a specialized secondary school and later the Academy of Fine Art and Design in Bratislava. It was there that I discovered my passion for jewellery, which felt like the perfect fit for me. I fell in love with art jewellery, and it’s been my lifelong devotion ever since.
I discovered my passion for jewellery, which felt like the perfect fit for me. I fell in love with art jewellery, and it’s been my lifelong devotion ever since.
Jana Machatová
Environmental Concern
For Jana Machatova, the tradition of careful material use is integral to her practice. Like traditional goldsmiths, she values recycling and reusing materials, ensuring that any leftovers are processed and not wasted. Although rare materials are no longer a necessity, the commitment to sustainability remains. She avoids using chemicals and works responsibly with the materials, always aiming to reduce her environmental impact and avoid unnecessary waste.
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Jana Machatová, born in 1972, Slovakia.
Education & Activities
2020 – 2024 Academy of Fine Art & Design in Bratislava , Studio of Metal and Jewellery, doctoral studies,
1995 – 1996 Muthesius Hochschule – Fachhochschule für Kunst und gestaltung in Kiel, ceramic department, DE
1991 – 1997 Academy of Fine Art & Design in Bratislava , Studio of Metal and Jewellery,
1986 – 1990 School of Applied Arts in Kremnica , jewellery department
A selection of my exhibitions and group exhibitions are; 2024 Lost in Memories, Staromestska galeria Zichy, Bratislava, Rona Gallery, Lednicke Rovne, SK / 2024 RED, Wearing Red, Ignite the Fire, curated by Charon Kransen, Patina Gallery, Santa Fe, USA / 2024 Empathy, 32th International Jewellery Competition, The Gallery of Art, Legnica PL / 2024 To Be Human, Thereza Pedrosa Gallery guest of Quittenbaum Art Auctions, Munich, DE / 2023 Story Hunters, Jana Machatova & Peter Machata, Thereza Pedrosa Gallery, Asolo, IT / 2023 Quality, 31st International Jewellery Competition, Gallery of Art in Legnica, Legnica, PL / 2023 Tarot, Contemporary Art Jewellery Exhibition, LA Joaillerie par Mazlo Gallery, Paris, FR / 2023 Re:ACTION, International exhibition of Budapest Jewelry Week, Budapest, HU / 2023 What Dreams Are Made of, Thereza Pedrosa Gallery guest of Quittenbaum Art Auctions, Munich, DE / 2022 Echo of the Mind, Slovak Jewelry of Jana Machatova & Peter Machata Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugauvpils, LV / 2022 Dialogues with the Past, Slovak Jewelry of Jana Machatova & Peter Machata, Art Noveau Centre, Riga, LV / 2022 Under the Surface, Slovak Jewelry of Jana Machatova & Peter Machata, Museum of Applied Arts and Design, Vilnius, LT / 2022 Simple Stories…, Jana Machatova+ Peter Machata, La Joaillerie par Mazlo, Paris, FR / 2022 Märchen, Mythen und Geschichten, Galerie Handwerk, Munchen, DE / 2022 METALLOphone 6: Memory of a Place, The Contemporary Metel Art Biennial, Museum of Applied Arts and Design, Vilnius, LT / 2021 Nuda Vita, The practice of collective and political body, a digital edition for Munich Jewellery Week / 2020 Show Me the Face, GMB, Bratislava, SK / 2020 Ordinary Life, Gallery Slavik, Vienna, AT / 2019 And All That is Left Are Stories, with Peter Machata, Zvolen Castle- Slovak National Gallery, SK / 2019 Time in Us: Jana Machatová and Peter Machata, The Communication Potential of Contemporary Jewellery, The Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Prague, CZ / 2018 – 1/1, with Peter Machata, Gallery Magna, Piešťany, SK / 2018 – 1+1, with Peter Machata ,Gallery NOVA, Bratislava, SK / 2018 20+, with Peter Machata, Rosenfeld Palace, Žilina, SK / 2016 Private expeditions, with Peter Machata, Ernest Zmetak art, Gallery, Nove Zamky, SK / 2016 Expecting a miracle, with Peter Machata,Gallery Čin Čin, SK / 2016 Schmuck 2016, Munich, DE / 2015 Omnia Vanitas, Gallery du WCC-BF, Mons, Belgium / 2013 Ready to wear, with Peter Machata Orava Gallery, Dolný Kubín, SK / 2013 Love over Gold, Gallery V&V, Viedeň, Vienna, AT / 2013 – Ready to wear, with Peter Machata Orava Gallery, Dolný Kubín, SK / 2013 Love over Gold, Gallery V&V, Viedeň, Vienna, AT / 2012 Schmuck 2012, Munich, Germany / 2012 Jewel Book, Gallery WCC-BF, Mons, Belgium / 2011 SEXI, 20th International Jewellery Competition, Gallery of Art in Legnica, Legnica, Poland / 2009 Sentimental Value, Gallery V&V, Vienna, AT / 2008 Ravary, Gallery Marzee, Nijmegen, The Netherlands / 2006 Bilder aus dem Familienalbum, Galllery V&V, Vienna, AT / 2003 Valuable Links – Jewels from the OSCE countries, Centre Céramique, Maastricht, The Netherlands / 2000 Schmuck 2000, Munich, Germany / 2000 The Ego Adorned, Antverpy, BE / 1999 Schmuck 99, Munich, DE / 1996 Schmuck 96, Munich, DE
