Anna Balasoglou

Anna Balasgolou, Wellington

Anna loves to work with New Zealand icons in fresh and unexpected ways. Doing this with paua shell (which has been done to death) or with the silhouettes of birds like the fantail and the tui – is a kind of ‘tuning-in’ to get a clear signal.

This ‘tuning’ is not really conscious, it is deep within her and it has been a constant mystery to her. She is grateful to this drive because it grounds her. She believes that creativity lifts you up and at the same time grounds you – and so it stretches you.

One thing she knows for sure is that she doesn’t want throw-away designs. She wants her work to last and at the same time always remain fresh. This is a challenge that has driven her since she first started jewellery design over 20 years ago.