Makiko Oda (Japan) is a contemporary jewelry artist whose practice is shaped by Japan’s natural landscapes and her training in industrial design. Born in a region rich in natural beauty, she studied industrial design at university, exploring materials, fabrication methods, and approaches to form. After graduating, she worked as a university assistant while developing metalworking skills and studying furniture design and woodworking.
She draws inspiration from the subtle expressions of plants, the movement of leaves in the breeze, the soft tones of autumn foliage, and the quiet joy of touching a flower. Her jewelry is conceived as an intimate dialogue with trees and flowers, intended to “touch the heart with jewelry.”
Oda’s work is distinguished by the use of wood veneer, shaped through molded plywood techniques adapted from furniture design. She designs and fabricates all molds herself, creating forms that feel light while maintaining strength and durability. Her work has received several awards and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Scotland.
