Anna was awarded a BA (HONS) 1st class in Jewellery from Middlesex University and completed a PGCE (PCET) at Swansea Metropolitan University. She is currently senior research associate in applied arts and her previous role was as project officer in applied arts at CIRIC, the Creative Industries Research and Innovation Centre based in Dynevor. Anna Lewis is also a practising jewellery designer and applied artist.

www.annalewisjewellery.co.uk

Research Profile

• Memory, memorial, superstitions, amulets and shrines are interconnecting themes which inspire and inform my work be it jewellery large-scale installation or photographic collaboration. I now realise I am striving to discover the symbolic significance of objects in peoples lives whether they be personal, religious, cultural or universal. Stemming from a fascination with recording my own personal history I am interested in the relationship people have with certain objects and how they influence behaviour and belief through their material meanings.

• I choose to interpret these influences both symbolically and visually in my work. Using themes and imagery from my own collection of family heirlooms I combine materials like feathers, leather, silk, wood and silver, which are printed with delicate traces of memory and have hidden meanings.

Research Interests include:

• Cathexis : An attachment or transfer of emotional energy and significance onto and into an object idea, or person.

• This is a psychological term, which describes the essence of what it is that interests and inspires my creative research - the emotion or meaning people embed in material possessions. What particularly interests me is the elevated and almost sacred status of objects once possessed by the dead (be it an heirloom, an object on the grave or an every day possession or item of clothing).

• Research is currently looking at the significance of heirlooms, amulets, superstitions, grave yards and memorials, Shrines, offerings, mourning jewellery, family photography and memory.

Selected Recent Exhibitions

• 2008 ‘Origin' - Somerset House, London with catalogue

• 2008 British Jewellers - Dan Ginza gallery - Tokyo

• 2008 ‘Brilliance' - Craft Central - Coutts London Jewellery Week

• 2008 ‘Marking Space' CIRIC - Swansea Metropolitan University Curated by Anna Lewis

• 2008 Solo show at Gallery Si - Kobe, Japan

• 2008 New Traditional Jewellery ‘faith' competition finalist - Sieradd -Amsterdam

• 2007 Anna Lewis - ‘Cathexis' - installation - Mission Gallery, Swansea & Catalogue

• 2006‘Jewellers in summer' - gallery Arai - Tokyo

• 2006 ‘ SOFA - Chicago ‘ with Ruthin Crafts Centre - Navy Pier,Chicago

• 2005‘ Wearable Unwearable ‘ - Irish Crafts Council, National Crafts Gallery - Kilkenny Ireland

• 2005‘ Brilliantly Birmingham In Milan ‘ - Triennale Museum -Milan

• 2004‘ Jewellery Unlimited ‘ - Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery

• 2004‘ Mergings ‘ - National Gallery Of The Cayman Islands

• 2003‘ Wales in New South Wales' - Museum of Contemporary Art - Sydney, Australia

• 2003‘ Jewellery meets textiles ‘ - Contemporary Applied Arts - London

• 2003‘ New wave - Wales / Scotland II ‘ - Ruthin Craft Centre & The Scottish Gallery

• 2002‘ 30 / 30 vision ‘ - The Crafts Council - London - touring

• 2002‘ Dazzle ‘ - Royal National Theatre - London

• 2002 Solo exhibition - The Harley Gallery - Nottinghamshire

• 2002/03/04 Chelsea Crafts Fair - London

• 2002‘ Schmuck ‘ - Munich

• 2001‘Destination Unknown'- Ruthin Craft Centre

Awards

• 2008 Wales Arts International & ACJ Travel award to Japan

• 2006 Design Factory & WAI award - British Crafts in Japan mission

• 2005 Creative Wales award - Arts Council Of Wales

• 2001 Setting up grant awarded from the Arts Council of Wales

Notable Commissions, Publications, Press & memberships

• 2009 Installation and signage at Liberty Lingerie department - London

• 2008 Work selected for ‘Adorn: New Jewellery' publication by Amanda Mansell

• 2008 Work selected for ‘Jewellery from Natural Materials' publication by Beth Legg Hampshire - Roto Vision

• 2008 Work selected for ‘Sign & Symbols: communicating with pattern' by Keith Stephenson & Mark

• 2008 5 page interiors feature - The Saturday Times Magazine - July

• 2008 Design & Cassa magazine - China - feature

• 2008 Exhibition review - ‘Findings' - Anna Lewis Does Japan - June 08

• 2007 Full page feature in ‘Elle Decor Italia' - Oct issue

• 2007 Exhibition review ‘Cathexis' - ‘Findings magazine - ACJ' - Sept

• 2007 Anna Lewis - Cathexis book published - essay by Caroline Broadhead

• 2007 Cover of Artists Newsletter - May

• 2006 4-page article in ‘Embroidery' by Liz Hoggard (March/April)

• 2005 Work Included in book ‘ New Directions In Jewellery ‘ - Black Dog

• 2005 Work featured in ‘Selvedge' - 08 (Nov/Dec)

• 2005 Work Chosen For Photostore Selected Makers - Crafts Council

• 2003/4 Work featured in ‘ Living Etc ‘ (Dec, Jan, & April issues)

• 2003 Article featured in ‘ Object ‘ - Australian Design Magazine (no 43 - Oct)

• 2003 Membership to Contemporary Applied Arts - London

• 2003 Work featured in ‘ Elle Decoration ‘ (Aug)

• 2003‘Lookout' Article in ‘ Crafts ‘ by Liz Hoggard (No: 180 Jan/Feb)

• 2002 Work featured in ‘ Elle Decoration ‘ (Dec)

• 2002 Jewellery commission for Elle Mcpherson

• 2002 Selected member of Design Nation

• 1999 Commission of 4 body pieces for Dai Rees - London Fashion week