Ute Kolar is a contemporary jewellery artist living in Italy. She finds inspiration in the beauty of nature and loves the slow, thoughtful process of turning materials and memories into tangible poetry. In her creations, she skillfully shapes very thin wood to build intricate three-dimensional worlds filled with countless small pieces. Sometimes her work feels monumental, other times it’s delicate, reminiscent of secret gardens gently swaying in the wind or fond childhood memories.
What was the inspiration for your Steinbeisser pieces?
This series has a heartfelt origin, a piece of root wood from a rose bush in my childhood garden. Dug up, dried, and treasured over the years, it features a beautifully interwoven root system that forms the foundation. From this organic sculpture, I’ve carved the bases of the spoons and forks. The handles and bodies are made from scaffolds adorned with countless wooden slats. It’s a lengthy and thoughtful process, but it has a rhythm all its own. Each small piece finds its perfect place, resulting in bizarre shapes that evoke memories of forest creatures. They’re all unique, yet they share a common family lineage.
Describe your work in 3 words!
Mindfulness. Awareness. Remembrance.
What kind of materials do you use and where do you get them from?
A piece of rosewood root from my childhood garden and some walnut veneer from my mom’s art studio, where she spent years collecting beautiful veneer wood. The inner structure is made of soldered brass wire, and the wood is attached in a layered style.
Which conscious lifestyle choices are you making and are you considering any new ones?
I believe in slow work rather than fast consumption. Less production, more meaning. I search. I find. I create. Respect for material, origin, and process.
What have you rebelled against in the past and what are you rebelling against now?
I don’t really see myself as someone who’s actively rebelling. Instead, I like to use my work to expand people’s awareness and lead them into new ways of seeing things, especially when it comes to food. While I’m working, I find a deep sense of peace. I feel a strong connection to the materials I’ve rediscovered from my childhood, and I genuinely love incorporating them into my creations.