KARIN JACOBSON
Where Sculpture Meets Adornment
In contemporary jewellery, where the boundaries between art, design, and object are increasingly fluid, Karin Jacobson has carved out a distinctive voice. Her work exists in the space between sculpture and adornment, transforming flat sheets of metal into expressive, architectural forms that feel both striking and effortless to wear. At once structural and fluid, bold yet refined, her jewellery explores the relationship between material, movement, and meaning.
Working from her studio in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District, Jacobson approaches jewellery as a sculptural practice. Each piece is handcrafted with meticulous attention to detail, shaped by a process that is as much about experimentation and engineering as it is about aesthetic expression. Her work reflects a deep commitment to responsible sourcing, thoughtful design, and the enduring power of form.
At the heart of Jacobson’s practice is a fascination with transformation. Her work begins with flat metal, which she cuts, drills, and folds into three-dimensional forms, much like paper in origami. Through this process, rigid material takes on volume, movement, and surprising lightness.
This exploration of folded structure defines her signature Origami Collection, where crisp lines and architectural silhouettes create pieces that appear simultaneously delicate and powerful. Large sculptural earrings maintain an airy lightness, while folded surfaces capture and reflect light in unexpected ways. The work carries a sense of precision and restraint, revealing a designer deeply attuned to balance, structure, and wearability.
Her visual language draws influence from beyond the jewellery world. Visits to museums and an appreciation for Chinese ink painting inform her use of bold lines and minimal gesture, where a single contour can define an entire form. This artistic sensibility gives her work a clarity that feels both modern and timeless.
While the folded forms of her Origami work are perhaps her most recognisable, Jacobson’s practice moves fluidly across different expressions of form and material. Her Confetti Collection offers a vibrant counterpoint, introducing playful compositions of colourful gemstones that celebrate spontaneity and energy. Here, stones become focal points of expression, bringing warmth and movement to her sculptural designs.
In contrast, her Fairmined™ 18k gold pieces explore refinement and material purity. These works emphasise minimalism and integrity of form, allowing responsibly sourced materials to take centre stage. Clean lines and considered proportions create jewellery that feels quietly powerful, grounded in both craftsmanship and ethics. Across these collections, Jacobson maintains a careful balance between sculptural presence and everyday wearability. Her pieces are designed not only to be seen but to be lived with.
Ethical sourcing lies at the core of Jacobson’s philosophy. She works primarily with recycled and Fairmined™ precious metals, alongside responsibly mined, fair-trade, or traceable gemstones sourced from small-scale artisanal producers. This commitment reflects a broader respect for the materials she works with and the communities connected to them. Her approach to making is deeply hands-on. Designs often begin as drawn patterns that are translated directly onto metal, then meticulously cut and folded by hand. Oxidised silver surfaces are sometimes contrasted with precise gold edges, creating graphic definition and visual tension. Every stage of the process reflects a devotion to craft, precision, and structural integrity. This maker-led ethos aligns her with the contemporary studio jewellery tradition, where process, material exploration, and individual authorship shape the work as much as the final form.
What distinguishes Jacobson’s work is its ability to occupy two worlds simultaneously. Her jewellery possesses the presence of sculpture, yet remains deeply attentive to comfort and function. Pieces are engineered for movement, designed to sit naturally on the body while maintaining strong visual impact.
This balance reflects her belief that jewellery should offer something new, something expressive, while remaining accessible and wearable in daily life. Her work invites interaction, encouraging the wearer to engage with form, texture, and light.
Over the course of her career, Jacobson’s practice has evolved from earlier playful, colourful designs toward increasingly refined and sculptural work. Yet throughout this evolution, a consistent vision remains: a commitment to innovation, responsible craftsmanship, and the exploration of metal as a living, transformative material. Her distinctive approach has earned her national recognition and multiple industry awards, affirming her place within contemporary jewellery’s most thoughtful voices. More than adornment, her pieces offer a quiet dialogue between structure and softness, material and movement, art and everyday life.
In Karin Jacobson’s work, jewellery becomes more than decoration. It becomes an exploration of form, a study in balance, and a reflection of the possibilities that emerge when craft, ethics, and imagination converge.
