
mielle harvey
education
1993 – 1999 master of fine arts, Akademie der Bildenden Künste München, jewellery (prof. otto künzli), Munich, Germany
1993 – 1999 bachelor of fine arts, Rhode Island School of Design, jewellery and metalsmithing, Providence, United States of America
1991 Rhode Island School of Design, european honors program, Rome, Italy
teaching
2011 – 2015 department of jewellery and metalsmithing, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, United States of America
2012 – 2014 department of jewellery and metals, School of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, United States of America
2001 – 2002 jewellery department, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, United States of America
exhibitions
since 1994
awards
1999 DAAD prize for foreigners, Munich, Germany
1996 Herbert Hoffman Prize, Munich, Germany
museum collections
Pinakothek der Moderne Museum, Munich, DE
Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, United States of America
about the work
‘Dead Birds’ and ‘Silver Scenes’
Each piece is like a window that captures and preserves a glimpse of an ephemeral moment.
Throughout my work, I am continually exploring the theme of ‘momento mori’, to create narratives about our relationship to nature and impermanence. The ‘timelessness’ of jewellery, and permanence of metalwork in particular, makes it an interesting medium for exploring ideas around mortality.
I see my jewellery as a visual elegy, through which I pay homage to preciousness that we often overlook, found in this endless flux of growth and decay. By depicting transience and vulnerability, I try to evoke a sense of empathy, and enliven how we see the world around us.
My ‘Dead Bird’ series is inspired by still life paintings from the hunt. These works are first sculpted in wax, and cast in sterling silver. The resulting bird pendants reveal both delicate detail, and the raw direct texture of their making.
The ‘Silver Scenes’ series depicts moments in nature as portraits of ephemerality. I chose the title as a nostalgic reference to the ‘silver screen’. Like film stills, each piece is like a window that captures and preserves a glimpse of an passing moment.
Using personal observation, printmaking, portraiture, and black and white photography as a reference, I create these pieces by painting and drawing directly into thin pieces of silver sheet.
For me, this series is an exciting synthesis of my interests, as drawing and painting have always been a vital, but less public part of my practice.
Mielle Harvey
galerie-door-mielle-harvey-2020-large-bumblebee
Mielle Harvey, Bumble bee, edition, brooch, sterling silver, gold, 32 x 32 mm, photo: courtesy artist – (SOLD)
galerie-door-mielle-harvey-2020-bee-on-box
Mielle Harvey, Bee on Box, 2020, brooch, lost wax cast sterling silver, oil paint, 24ct gold leaf, 45 x 27 mm, photo: courtesy artist, courtesy Galerie Door
galerie-door-mielle-harvey-2020-bee-exiting-box
Mielle Harvey, Bee Exiting Box, 2020, brooch, lost wax cast sterling silver, oil paint, 24ct gold leaf, 35 x 35 mm, photo: courtesy artist, courtesy Galerie Door
galerie-door-mielle-harvey-2020-bees-exit-box
Mielle Harvey, Bees Exiting Box, 2020, brooch, lost wax cast sterling silver, oil paint, 24ct gold leaf, 55 x 50 mm, photo: courtesy artist, courtesy Galerie Door
galerie-door-mielle-harvey-Hands with Rubies edit cc
Mielle Harvey, Hands with Rubies Necklace, 2019, lost wax cast sterling silver, rubies, patina, silk cord, ø 152,4 x 165 mm, photo: Mielle Harvey – (SOLD)
galerie-door-mielle-harvey-Empty Hands Necklace
Mielle Harvey, Empty Hands Necklace, 2019, lost wax cast sterling silver, patina, silk cord, ø 165 x 178 mm, photo: Mielle Harvey
galerie-door-mielle-harvey-Bird Flying with Ruby edit
mielle harvey, bird with ruby, 2019, pendant, sterling silver (lost wax cast), ruby, silk
galerie-door-mielle-harvey-Hands with Rubies Earrings
Mielle Harvey, Hands with Rubies Earrings, 2019, lost wax cast sterling silver, rubies, oil paint, 25,4 x 38 mm, photo: Mielle Harvey – (SOLD)
Small Hand with Ruby Brooch
Mielle Harvey, Small Hand with Ruby Brooch, 2019, brooch, lost wax cast sterling silver, rubies, patina, 25,4 x 38 mm, photo: Mielle Harvey – (SOLD)
galerie-door-mielle-harvey-Hanging Bird with Red Thread
Mielle Harvey, Hanging Bird with Red Thread, 2019, lost wax cast sterling silver, oil paint, silk cord, 63,5 x 51 mm, photo: Mielle Harvey – (SOLD)
galerie-door-mielle-harvey-Bird in Hand Pendant II
Mielle Harvey, Bird in Hand Pendant II, 2019, lost wax cast sterling silver, oil paint, silk cord, 44,5 x 51 mm, photo: Mielle Harvey
galerie-door-mielle-harvey-Bird in Hand Brooch II edit
Mielle Harvey, Bird in Hand Brooch II, 2019, brooch, lost wax cast sterling silver, oil paint, 32 x 32 mm, photo: Mielle Harvey
galerie-door-mielle-harvey-Hanging Duck with Blue Thread
Mielle Harvey, Hanging Duck with Blue Thread, 2019, lost wax cast sterling silver, oil paint, silk cord, 70 x 44,5 mm, photo: Mielle Harvey
galerie-door-mielle-harvey-fallen birch XI
Mielle Harvey, Fallen Birch IX, graphite and mixed media on paper, photo: Mielle Harvey
galerie-door-mielle-harvey-fallen birch VIII
Mielle Harvey, Fallen Birch VIII, graphite and wax crayon on paper – photo: Mielle Harvey