Birgit Laken

Birgit Laken, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Education:
1967-1972 Koninklijke Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten, The Hague, The Netherlands
1972-1976 Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Since 1976 Own studio in Haarlem, The Netherlands

Museum Collections:
Museum of fine Arts Boston, MA, U.S.A. | Museum voor Moderne Kunst, Arnhem, The Netherlands | Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem, The Netherlands | Museum für Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt, Germany | Centraal Museum, Utrecht, The Netherlands | Cleveland Countymuseum, Middlesborough, U.K. | Kunstindustriemuseum, Oslo, Norway | Kunstindustriemuseum, Trondheim, Norway | Schmuckmuseum, Pforzheim, Germany | Museum CODA, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands | Museum Boymans-van Beuningen, Rotterdam, The Netherlands | Gemeente Museum, The Hague, The Netherlands | Musée de l’Horlogerie et d’Emaillerie, Genève, Switzerland | Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany | Cooper Hewitt Museum, New York, USA | Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Montreal, Canada | Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Texas, U.S.A. | Museum of Natural History Chemnitz, Germany 

Grants Fonds bkvb
1986 Project grant for exploring the Mokume gane technique.
1988 Working grant for finishing the Mokume gane project.
1990 Presentation grant for the book ‘Birgit Laken, metal in motion’, works in Mokume gane.
1992 Grant for profession costs
1995 Basic grant.
1999 Working grant for the ‘Heartwear’ project.
2000 Working grant for the ‘Heartwork’project.
2002 Basic grant.
2006 Basic grant.
2011 Practice grant

Awards:
2013 Designer‘s Excellence Award, Korea Jewelry Design Association.

Exhibitions (selection):
2017 The Studio Melle Finelli, Boston USA, ‘Techno Color’, 3D printed jewelry’​
2017 Galerie Orfèo, Luxembourg L, ‘25 ans Orfèo’
2017 La Galeller, Sevilla E, ‘Dialogues from the Netherlands’
2017 Galerie Beeld&Aambeeld Enschede NL, ‘Sieraden Solo, 10 jaar HSC’
2017 Art Zaanstad, Hembrug Zaandam NL Art fair
2017 Galerie Cécile van Eeden Eindhoven NL, ‘Maak een statement met een Broche’
2016 Galeria Reverso, Lisbon, P. ‘Idem’.
2016 South Korea, Korea Craft Designer Association, Invited International Exhibition
2016 Taipei Branch, National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute, Taipei.
2016 Designkwartier Den Haag NL, 3d prints
2016 Galeria Context, Cugat Barcelona, E, ‘Más que zuecos y tulipanes’, Dutch jewellery designers.  
2016 La Galeller, Sevilla, E, ‘Más que zuecos y tulipanes’, Dutch jewellery designers. 
2015 Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus Hanau Germany, ‘Neues aus dem Perm’ (catalogue)
2015 Mei Ling Sieraden Edam NL, Spring exhibition, 'Choice of the last twelve years'.
2015 Lalabeyou Madrid E, ‘Más que zuecos y tulipanes’, Dutch jewellery designers.
2015 37PK, Haarlem, NL, ‘Artists Christmas’s show’
2015 Korea Society of Design Science, Chonnam National University Yongji Exhibition Hall, ‘International Fall Invitational Exhibition’, Korea.    
2015 Galeria Reverso, Lisbon, P. ‘Snapshot’
2014 Vishal, Haarlem, NL, Mapping the world.
2014 Coda Museum, Apeldoorn, NL, Kettingreacties, sieraden en fotografie van Claartje Keur.
2014 Central Textile Museum, Lodz, Poland, ‘Schätze aus dem versteinerte Wald        Chemnitz’(catalogue)
2014 Townhall Ljubljana, Slovenia, News from the Permian and treasures from the petrified Forest of Chemnitz (catalogue)
2014 Galerie Iang, Seoul Korea, ‘The 42th Invited International Exhibition of the KCDA’
2014 Galeria Reverso, Lisbon, Portugal, ‘Spectrum’.
2014 Galerie Cécile van Eeden, Eindhoven, NL, Spotlight exhibition, ‘Animaled’
2013 Tongmyong University, Busan, Korea. Best digital designer, invited international exhibition (catalogue) | School of Visual Arts, New York, USA, Special invited international design Exhibition 2013 (catalogue) | Gallery Iang, Seoul, Korea, Cutting Edge 2013, invited international exhibition (catalogue) | International Jewelry Art Biennale, Beijing Institute of Fashion and Technology | News from the Permian
Grassimuseum Leipzig Germany, GRASSIMESSE 2013 | News from the Permian- international contemporary jewellery art and the Chemnitz Petrified Forest, Museums für Naturkunde Chemnitz, (Chemnitz, Germany) | Reverso´s 15th Anniversary—a Tribute to Bé (Ana Isabel Rodrigues), Galeria Reverso Lisbon Portugal
2012 Galerie V&V, Vienna A, 'Fremde Federn' curated by kunst.wirt.schaft Graz | KASU, Munich D, "Fremde Federn" 14- 20 March (during 'Schmuck 2012') | Handwerksmesse Munich D, 'Schmuck 2012' International jewellery exhibition | Museum MUVIM, Valencia E, 'Schmuck 2012'
2011 Galerie Cécile van Eeden, Eindhoven NL, Dutch Design Week exhibition, 'Grasduinen' | Galeria Reverso, Lisbon P, ‘Au fil du temps’ | Galerie Porée Paris F, Christmas show | Galerie Hnoss Göteborg S, ‘The Ring, jewel for ever’ (catalogue) | Taiwan international exhibition KCDA (catalogue) | Korea digital Design Members Exhibition (catalogue) | Korea Craft designers Association members exhibition (catalogue) | Hanyang University International Symposium and exhibition (catalogue) | Kunst.Wirt.Schaft Graz, A. "Wort/Schmuck" | Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim, D. "Serpentina" Serpentine jewellery | Werkstadt Graz, Graz A. Positions of contemporary jewelry art. (poster) | Gallery Iang, Seoul Korea, Best Digital Designer, Invited International Exhibition (catalogue)
2010 Galerie Hnoss Göteborg SE, 'Heartwork' | Gallery Iang Seoul Korea, Invited International Exhibition of KCDA. (catalogue) | Silke & the Gallery Antwerpen B. ‘Op Voorraad’ | Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, D. “ Dialog der Kulturen“. | Galerie van B Vlaardingen vormgegeven gastcurator Threes Moolhuijsen | Galerie Lous Martin Delft, NL. ‘Kunst met een afscheidskus’ (folder) | Mad Museum New York, U.S.A. Loot 2010 | Velvet da Vinci San Francisco, U.S.A. ‘The plastic show’ (Catalogue 500 plastic Jewelry Designs Lark Books) | Galerie Orfèo Luxemburgh. ‘Summerland’| Taiwan Designers’week Taipei Taiwan. Pop up store ‘In stock’ | Galeria Reverso Lissabon P. IGOJA with ‘Serendipity’.
2009 Galeria Reverso Lisbon P. ‘Twitter Tea Party’ | Galerie Slavik Vienna A. ‘Winterreise’ | Huisrechts Amsterdam NL. ‘Op Voorraad’ | Tacoma Art Museum WA USA. Ornament as Art. (catalogue) | Contemporary Applied Art London UK. ‘Inner Voice’, curated by Dorothy Hogg | Solidor Art Space Haut-de-Cagnes Cagnes-sur-Mer F. Allures et Parures, nouveau | Regard sur la Hollande. (catalogue) | München D. during ‘Schmuck 2009’, ‘Auf Vorrat’, Adlzreiterstrasse, concept Ineke Heerkens, Jantje Fleisschut and Jeanette Jansen.
2008 Velvet da Vinci, San Francisco, U.S.A. Pendants and Lockets (500 Lark book) | Galerie Pilartz, cologne, Germany 'Summerland' solo / Renwick gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum U.S.A., ’Ornament as Art, Avant garde jewellery from the Helen Williams Drutt Collection.(catalogue) / Galeria Reverso Lisbon, Portugal. ‘Signs from nature’, duo exhibition with Suzanne Esser / Teylers Museum Haarlem, NL. ‘Natuurlijk gedragen’, Haarlems Sieraad Collectief.
2007 Stedelijk Museum Roermond NL. Sieradenparade and Radiant (catalogue) | Cécile van Eeden en design Daily’s Eindhoven NL. Beyond Material (catalogue) | Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim D. Mokume gane | The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh Scotland UK. Jewellery | State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia. Gold and silver jewellery: Changing traditions in the twentieth century (brochure) | Galeria Reverso Lissabon P. Beyond Material (catalogue) | Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim D. Art is flowering. (catalogue) | Museum of Fine Arts Houston, U.S.A. Ornament as Art: Jewelry from the Helen Williams Drutt collection | Velvet da Vinci San Francisco, U.S.A. The Earring show (500 earrings book) | Galerie Pilartz Cologne Germany | Archeological museum Haarlem, NL. The HSC (Haarlems Sieraad Collectief) with ‘Jewels under the ground’ | Ateliers 195-197 Heemstede, NL. ‘The clear line’.
2006 V&A, London, ‘Collect’ with Galerie Ra | Museum De Fundatie, Zwolle, ‘Uitgepak’. The Bijkerk Collection (catalogue) | Kunstrai Amsterdam, Galerie Ra | Galerie So, Solothurn/Switserland, ‘Summer 06’ | Be-a-Queen Amsterdam, NL.‘De Schatkamer’ |  Galerie Ra, ‘Radiant’ 30 years jubilee, (catalogue) | Galerie Lous Martin, ‘Beyond Material’, 10 years jubilee (catalogue) | Het oude raadhuis, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands 
2005 Chateau-Musée Grimaldi Cagnes-sur-Mer. L’or bijoux d’Europe (catalogue) | Galerie Phoebus, Rotterdam NL. Necklaces curated by Threes Moolhuijsen | Handwerksmesse München Germany. Schmuck 2005.(catalogue) | Atelier Gerhard, ‘Freundschaft und Schmuck’, Cologna Germany | Maison des Métiers d’Arts de Pézenas, France.’ L’or adoré’ (catalogue) | Galerie Petra Spuijbroek Haarlem NL. Petra Spuijbroek onthult
2004 Vishal, Haarlem,The Netherlands ‘Zonder titel’(catalogue) | Expozee, Noordwijk. The Netherlands ‘Sieraden aan zee’(catalogue) | De beurs van Berlage Amsterdam. De Rietveld naar de beurs | Musée Cité de l’or, Saint Amand-Montrond, France, ‘L’or d’Europe, bijoux | Contemporain’ Triënnale du bijou (catalogue) | Galerie Ra,”Deeply impressed”. Amsterdam. NL | Galerie Ramakers, Den Haag, The Netherlands. ‘When summer almost has gone’ | Mobilia Gallery Cambridge. U.S.A. Connections | Sofa Art fair, Chicago. U.S.A. Mobilia Gallery
2003 Powerhouse Museum Sydney. Australia. Mikromegas (catalogue) | John Curtin Gallery Perth. Australia. Mikromegas (catalogue) | Galerie Artwindow, Heemstede, The Netherlands | Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum Acropolis, Athens, Greece, Maskerade (catalogue) | Stedelijk Museum Roermond, NL. De keuze vaRoermond (catalogue)
2002 Handswerkmesse München. Schmuck 2002 (catalogue) | Hiko Mizuno College of Jewellery Tokio. Mikromegas (catalogue) | Gallery one, the Dick Institute, Kilmarnoc, Scotland UK (catalogue) | Centraal Museum Utrecht The Netherlands. ‘Zonder wrijving geen glans’ | Musée de l’horlogerie et de l’émaillerie Genéve, Switzerland. Mikromegas (catalogue) | Ruthin Craftcentre Wales U.K. Maskerade (catalogue) | Cleveland craft centre Middlesborough, U.K. Maskerade (catalogue)
2001 Handswerkmesse München Germany. Schmuck 2001 (catalogue) | Galerie für Angewandte Kunst München Germany. Mikromegas (catalogue) | American Craftsmuseum New York. Mikromegas (catalogue) | Galerie Ra Amsterdam. 25 years jubilee, Maskerade (catalogue) | De Paviljoens Almere, The Netherlands. Sieraden, de keuze van Almere (catalogue) | Gewerbemuseum Wintherthur, Switzerland. Schmuck hier, Schmuck anderswo, Verwandschaft oder Zufall? (catalogue)
2000 Objects of Desire Gallery, Louisville. U.S.A. | Handswerkmesse München Germany. Schmuck 2000 (catalogue) | Arts Fair Chicago, Arts Fair New York, Charon Kransen Arts | Musée D.A.C. Lausanne, Switzerland. Parures d’ailleur, Parures d’ici: Incidences, Coïncidences? (catalogue) | Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem The Netherlands. Op de huid (catalogue)

Work experience:
1979-1980 Teacher, Academy of Art Amersfoort, The Netherlands
1984-1986 Teacher, Academy of Art Kampen, The Netherlands
1997 Guest lecturer, Fachhochschule für Gestaltung, Düsseldorf, Germany | Guest lecturer, Academie of Art, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2005 Guest lecturer, Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland UK
2007 Guest lecturer at the Edinburgh College of Art.
2010 Lecture at HDK, Högskolan för Design och Konsthantverk, Gothenburg Sweden
2011 Lecture about Authors Jewellery, Artline Townhall Haarlem

Workshops and lectures at several Art institutes:
Australia: Perth, Sydney, Launceston Tasmania, Melbourne and Darwin
Europe: Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Denmark, Scotland.
U.S.A.: Washington, Providence and Darmouth Massachusetts.

Juror and examiner:
At several Art institutes in the Netherlands

Curator:
2009 Allures et Parures, nouveau regard sur la Hollande, Solidor Art Space, Haut-de-Cagnes, Cagnes-sur-Mer, France. (Catalogue)

Other activities:
2016 3D Design demo’s with Anarkik3d sketch program during ‘Night of the Nerds’, Eindhoven NL
2016 3D Design demo’s with Anarkik3d sketch program during ‘Design Kwartier’, The Hague NL
2015 Organisation 10 days 3D tour for Anarkik3D, and working together in Workshops, demo’s and lecture for the Forum Für Schmuck und Design Cologne Germany, Makerpoint Maastricht NL, Cube Design Museum Kerkrade NL, Dutch Design Week Makerpoint Eindhoven NL, 37 PK Haarlem NL.
 

• From 1977 onwards reviews and articles in newspapers and magazines.
• In 1990 own catalogue edition: Birgit Laken, metal in motion. Works in Mokumé Gane.
• Lark books, ‘500 Brooches’ 2005.
• Lark Books, ‘500 Necklaces’ 2006.
• Lark Books, ‘500 Earrings’ 2007.
• Laurence King, ‘Adorn, new jewellery’, Amanda Mansell,  2008.
• Lark Books, ‘500 Pendants and Lockets,’ 2008.
• Lark Books, ‘the Art of Jewellery: Plastic & Resin’, 2008.
• Darling Publications, 'The Compendium Finale of Contemporary Jewellers', 2008.
• Lark Books, ‘500 Plastic Jewelry Designs', 2009.
• Lark Books ‘Pendants’ Lark studio series, 2010.
• Search Press. ‘The new encyclopedia of jewellery making techniques’. Jinks McGrath. 2010
• Lark Books, ‘500 Silver Jewelry Designs’ 2011.
• Lark Books, ‘Best of 500 series’, Collectors Edition of 10 years 500 series, 2011.
• Lark Books ‘Earrings’ Lark studio series, 
• Lark Books '500 Beaded Jewelry' 2012
• Jewel Book, international annual of contemporary jewel art 2012, Stichting Kunstboek.
• Beijing International Jewelry Art Exhibition 2013
 

Galerie Marzee, Nijmegen NL.
www.marzee.nl

Galerie Orfèo, Luxembourg L
www.galerie-orfeo.com

Galeria Reverso, Lisbon P.
www.reversodasbernardas.com

Galerie Cecile van Eeden, Eindhoven NL