Zoe Brand

Zoe Brand is the kind of jewellery artist and maker who is challenging the way we consider adornment, and in 2005 it was a gift from her mother for her 21st birthday which triggered the innovation switch. It was at the Object Gallery Sydney where a young Zoe’s mind was opened to the notion of contemporary jewellery.

SELLOUT disc pendant, Powder coated aluminium 270mm diameter image: Lean Timms

“Not diamonds and gold, but plastic and concepts,” she said. Walking out of the Object Gallery with a “stack of rings” including an acrylic piece by jeweller Melinda Young, the fates continued to align when Zoe enrolled in a jewellery workshop run by the very same artist.

“In that very first class we learned how to saw pierce,” said Zoe. “I think it was the moment the first blade snapped that I knew this was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.”

Zoe went on to complete an Advanced Diploma in Jewellery and Object Design at Design Centre, Enmore, TAFE NSW and a Bachelor of Visual Arts majoring in Gold and Silversmithing at the Australian National University. 2015 She finished her Bachelor of Visual Arts with First Class Honours at the same university.

Zoe has gone to exhibit in many group shows internationally. Her work is held in a number of significant private collections. In truly inimitable style, Zoe was also recently the Director of the Personal Space Project, a gallery located in her bedroom.

Zoe’s view on the future of craft is mixed, “but it doesn’t feel great currently”.

“Formal spaces, like galleries and educational institutions aren’t what they used to be,” she said. “But interesting things can happen in the gaps and spaces left behind.

“Exhibit in a mate’s backyard. Take the best photos you can. But most importantly just don’t stop making.”