My name is Ann-Kathrin Kuhn and I create handcrafted jewelry and collectible objects between Florence and Zurich.
Drawing on the Florentine history of art and craftsmanship since the Renaissance, my work is situated at the intersection of art, design, and contemporary jewelry, exploring narrative, symbolic, utilitarian and mystical dimensions of adornment.
Ann-Kathrin Kuhn® – Wearables and Collectibles – is an eponymous project which was born from my artistic practice and research, and conceived as an extension to it. Interweaving various fields of expression, the project is an ever evolving hybrid: a jewelry and accessory line, a No-ISBN publishing house, and an online collectibles boutique.
Through its virtual and physical presence at contemporary art galleries, pop up markets and concept stores, Ann-Kathrin Kuhn® presents small series of objects, limited editions to be worn or collected.
My jewelry and metal objects are slowly and carefully handcrafted in my studio located in Zurich, Switzerland. I work in small editions, or pièces uniques as to favor quality and a meaningful production. This allows each piece to keep its integrity while being infused with its own personality.
To create objects in metal, I mainly embrace the ancient technique of the Cire Perdue. Sculpting out of wax or directly working with nature. Incorporating elements found during walks in the forests or on the beach, and elements connected with a special memory or gift to give purpose and meaning to things that would otherwise decay, be forgotten or unseen.
Each model is then cast in Florentine bronze, sterling silver or gold at a local family business in Florence before returning to the studio, where I finish and polish each piece.
By using my own formulas and wax mixtures, I can shape and sculpt the material according to my ideas. This allows me to create textures or physical specificities that I could not obtain with industrial waxes and translates into a signature that makes each piece more personal.
