From the Northern Frontier to London’s Halls of Art: Liu Yang’s Jewellery Journey
From the vast landscapes of Xinjiang to the artistic halls of London, Liu Yang’s reverence for nature has accompanied her every step, crystallising into a distinctive jewellery language. Her creations transcend geography and culture, unfolding as an elegant dialogue between worlds.
Slovenian Jewelry Week 2024
Amid the vast expanse of Xinjiang, Liu Yang was early captivated by the awe-inspiring craftsmanship of nature. The region’s extraordinary stones and mysterious minerals seemed to whisper secrets from the depths of the earth. Fuelled by an insatiable curiosity for the mineral world, she ventured to Russia to study gemmology at the Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography. There, she not only mastered the rigorous techniques of gemstone identification, but also developed a profound understanding of the geological stories embedded within each gem.
Her journey then led her to London—the city of art and innovation—where she pursued further studies at Central Saint Martins. In this global capital of creativity, her artistic vision expanded dramatically, and the fusion of science and art began to flourish in her practice. Liu Yang’s talent quickly gained international recognition, with her works featured at events such as Romanian Jewelry Week and Design Shanghai, as well as showcased in galleries across Italy, the UK, and beyond.
IN MOTION: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEAUTY OF MINERALS
In her milestone collection In Motion, Liu Yang defies traditional jewellery’s pursuit of perfection by celebrating the unique beauty of gemstones marked by inclusions, fissures, and so-called flaws. These stones speak a language of the ancient earth, embodying the strength of Brutalist architecture and the raw elegance of untamed nature. As viewers interact with her pieces, each touch reveals the warmth of material and the narrative behind the design.
More than adornment, each work is a sensory journey—an invitation to explore. Her jewellery bridges the divide between urban life and elemental nature, offering a quiet but powerful dialogue between the body, material, and the world that surrounds them.
In Motion, 2023, Sterling Silver, Crystal.
In her latest 2025 collection Shimmer, Liu turns her attention to the treasures of traditional Chinese craftsmanship. She ingeniously integrates ancient sunmao (mortise-and-tenon) structures into contemporary jewellery design, offering a fresh expressive platform for often-overlooked gemstones such as labradorite and rutile quartz. In her eyes, the so-called “flaws” within these stones—their inclusions—become the very soul of the piece, revealing nature’s sublime artistry.
Under Liu Yang’s skilled hands, each creation resembles a carefully constructed frame that perfectly presents the gemstone’s inner radiance. Her designs not only highlight exceptional modern craftsmanship, but also reflect a deep and innovative engagement with cultural heritage. Shimmer opens up a new path for contemporary jewellery—one that gracefully bridges Eastern tradition and Western aesthetics.
Shimmer, 2024, Sterling Silver, Labradorite
SHIMMER: A REINTERPRETATION OF TRADITIONAL CRAFT
In her latest 2025 collection Shimmer, Liu turns her attention to the treasures of traditional Chinese craftsmanship. She ingeniously integrates ancient sunmao (mortise-and-tenon) structures into contemporary jewellery design, offering a fresh expressive platform for often-overlooked gemstones such as labradorite and rutile quartz. In her eyes, the so-called “flaws” within these stones—their inclusions—become the very soul of the piece, revealing nature’s sublime artistry.
Under Liu Yang’s skilled hands, each creation resembles a carefully constructed frame that perfectly presents the gemstone’s inner radiance. Her designs not only highlight exceptional modern craftsmanship, but also reflect a deep and innovative engagement with cultural heritage. Shimmer opens up a new path for contemporary jewellery—one that gracefully bridges Eastern tradition and Western aesthetics.
