Emiko Oye

"I transform LEGO® components with metals and recycled materials into art and fashion jewelry inspired by my obsession with historical jewelry, haute couture, David Bowie, and Nonviolent Communication."

A Japanese American artist based in San Francisco, emiko oye creates bold and colorful jewelry with repurposed LEGO®. Embracing the inherent nostalgia of this iconic material makes her work uniquely positioned to be a gateway connecting the public at large with the world of art jewelry. This personal connection that people of all ages and many cultures have with her work is what continues to drive and evolve her vision.

She digitally manipulates inspirational images into pixelated working templates, then dedicates hours or days of “play” in the studio, surrounded by her many stacks of organized LEGO bins from which to build and design her pieces. Combining metals, findings, and recycled materials with the LEGO, emiko uses the techniques of drilling, riveting, sawing, and other cold-connection solutions to make the builds permanent and wearable.

Her jewelry has been shown in 120+ exhibitions worldwide, including solo shows at the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Design, Ombré Gallery, and NYC Jewelry Week. Her work is in the permanent collections at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and Racine Art Museum. Numerous publications have featured emiko's work, such as American Craft, Metalsmith, the Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, and the San Francisco Chronicle. LEGO® System in Denmark endorse her as an “Influencer” for young makers.