ZOO is Life by Felieke van der Leest

Artist list

Felieke van der Leest

Contemporary jewelry artist Felieke van der Leest in her artworks uses such techniques as knitting, crocheting, and beading - using special, extremely fine yarns and tailor-made needles and hooks. Connecting the precious metals with textiles and toy animals, the artist creates a witty, attractive and colorful jewelry that brings out a smile and leaves no spectator indifferent.

"When I work with colors, I feel like an artist when I am working with metal, I feel like a constructor, and when I am working with toys, I feel like a child, " the artist comments on her creative process.
Plastic fish, seals, bears, giraffes, elephants, gorillas, dogs, birds and other animals live in the author's works of art. Toys are dressed up, cut and assembled, decorated and adorned. Transforming then both visually and conceptually, the artist manages to get them incorporate in her surreal world, discovering a new life for them.

"I think my work rather be called wearable sculptures rather than jewelry, " the artist explains.
Despite the witty approach to the jewelry making, Felieke, with her work also touches upon such social and serious issues as animal rights and environmental protection.

“Often the carriers of my jewelry tell me stories about my artwork that I would not have been able to see in my jewelry, “explain Felieke.