About

Vicki Mason’s jewellery practice is predominantly research based. She is interested in unpacking our relationship(s) with plants. Utilising plants as symbols/motifs she tells stories about life in Australia today while also building knowledge and awareness about the natural world in a technologically focused age.

Plants native to Australia, exotic plants, plant forms found in the fine/decorative arts and plants used in gardens are just some sources referenced and researched. Each conceptual investigation leads to discrete bodies and series of works. These include one-of-a-kind works and limited edition works for exhibition as well as collections of production work.

Vicki is interested in reinterpreting historical forms of jewellery as well as working with waste and remnant materials. Material discourses inform her practice and she often combines low tech domestic craft processes with industrial techniques in order to challenge traditional orthodoxies surrounding craft making.

Her interest in jewellery stems from a belief that jewellery has the capacity to provoke a viewer to respond or interact with a worn jewel, and therefore the wearer. A dialogue is opened up — jewellery then acts not only as a portable tool for the communication of ideas, but as a social object.

Vicki Mason lives and works in Naarm (Melbourne).

Exhibitions

Education

Australian National University, Master of Philosophy (Research), Gold and Silversmithing, Canberra, ACT

Box Hill Institute, Melbourne, Australia, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

Fluxus, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Post-graduate professional development, 2 years

Otago Polytechnic School of Art, Dunedin, New Zealand
Diploma in Craft Design, Major: Jewellery

University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Bachelor of Arts, Major: Classical Studies, Classical Art and Architecture

Awards, Grants and Residencies (selected)

2023 World Crafts Council – Asia Pacific, Award for Best Craftsman, II International Festival of Handicrafts, Kokand, Uzbekistan

2018 Yiwei Art Foundation, San W Artist Residency, Shanghai, China. Bundanon Trust, Artist-in-Residence, NSW, Australia 

2015 Australia Council for the Arts, Barcelona Studio Residency, Spain. World Crafts Council, Aileen International Crafts Competition, Bronze Award for excellent design and exquisite craftsmanship. Australian Tapestry Workshop, Artist in Residence, Melbourne, Australia  

2012 City of Melbourne, Project Grant, Melbourne, Australia 

2010 Arts Victoria, Artists in Schools, Grant, Melbourne Girls College, Melbourne, Australia 

2009 Contemporary Wearables Biennial Jewellery Award and Exhibition. First Prize, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Queensland, Australia 

2006 National Contemporary Jewellery Award, First prize: Jewellery using non precious materials, Griffith Regional Art Gallery, NSW, Australia 

2005 Australia Council for the Arts, VACB, New work grant 

Collections

Vicki’s work is held in the following public collections:

Museum of International Crafts, Kokand, Uzbekistan

Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts, Shanghai, China

Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia

Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Toowoomba, Australia

Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Griffith, NSW, Australia

Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia 

Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool, UK  

Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK 

Absolut Vodka Art Collection, Sweden  

Publications

2021

New Bracelets, Nicholas Estrada, promopress, 2021, p 83

2019

Journal of Modern Craft, Volume 12, Issue 2, July 2019. Craftivism. Dissident Objects and Subversive Forms. Exhibition Review. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17496772.2019.1620439 

Jewellery and Adornment, Engaging the Indigenous, Kevin Murray. https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/discover/research/crafting-aotearoa/engaging-the-indigenous? 

2016 

New Necklaces, Nicholas Estrada, promopress, 2016, pp 61, 240 

2014                                   

Place and Adornment: A History of Contemporary Jewellery in Australia and New Zealand, D Skinner & K Murray, David Bateman Ltd, 2014, pp 205, 227–229 

2013                                   

The Age Newspaper, 22nd June 2013 - The Nature of Adornment.

2011                                  

Art Jewelry Today 3, Jeffery B. Snyder, Schiffer Publishing Ltd, 2011, pp 163–164 

2010                                     

Craft Arts International, Softer Options, Issue 79, 2010, pp 47–50 Art Jewelry Today 3, Jeffery B. Snyder, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd,

2011 

Craft Arts International, Softer Options, Issue 79

2010

Saturated: Metal and Color, Exhibition in Print: Metalsmith magazine, USA, August

2009

Handmade In Melbourne, Nancy Ianni et al, Geoff Slattery Publishing, Melbourne, Australia, 2009, (contributing artist) 

500 Plastic Jewelry Designs, Lark Books, Altamont Press, Inc, USA, 2009 (contributing artist, published September 2009) 

2008

The Age, My Career - ‘Ring Cycle’ by Yvonne Nicolas, 24 May 2008 

2006

500 Necklaces, Lark Books, Altamont Press, Inc, USA, 2006 (contributing artist) 

2005

The great materials double dip - Object, Issue 46, 2005, p.16–23  500 Rings, Lark Books, Altamont Press, Inc, USA,

2004

500 Brooches, Lark Books, Altamont Press, Inc, USA, 2004 (contributing artist) 

Commissions

Cultural Festival Melbourne Commonwealth Games 2006 , 'Medalling: designed and decorated', invited exhibitor, RMIT Gallery, Melbourne, Australia.Absolut Vodka, 'Seven Deadly Sins' international advertising campaign, 2002.

 Bio

Vicki Mason has been wearing jewellery since age two and making it since age 6 or 7. Born in New Zealand she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies at the University of Otago and a Diploma in Craft Design from Otago Polytechnic School of Art (Jewellery) before working at Fluxus workshop/gallery with renowned Swiss goldsmith Kobi Bosshard and the FLUXUS team. She was awarded a Master of Philosophy degree (Research) in Gold and Silversmithing (ANU) in 2012. She runs production and exhibition practices and teaches. Vicki has been awarded many grants and awards including the prestigious Australia Council for the Arts Barcelona Studio residency in 2014. Her work is held in both public and private collections including the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts, Shanghai, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney and the Art Gallery of South Australia. She interviews for Art Jewelry Forum, the international online platform for contemporary Jewelry and is on the board of the World Crafts Council – Australia. 

Work with me

If you would like to commission me to create a bespoke commission, discuss workshop or teaching opportunities — just fill out the form below and I’ll be in touch!