We are delighted to present a collection of jewellery new to The Gallery this April from Michael Becker. Michael is renowned for working predominantly in gold, which he combines with stones such as lapis lazuli, uvarovite and red mineral pigment. His exquisite small scale constructions offer us a powerful contemporary interpretation of these most ancient materials, which examines Becker’s use of subtle texture, colour and geometric shapes.

Michael studied at the Fachhochschule Cologne, Germany and his work is held in numerous pubic collections.

Public Collections include:

Victoria & Albert Museum, London; Schmuckmuseum, Pforzheim Kunstgewerbemuseum; Berlin Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris; Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Montreal; Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg; Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, New York

His jewellery possesses an extraordinary stillness and precision, revealing a deep understanding of both material and form.

Working predominantly in high-carat gold, Becker combines precious metals with carefully selected materials including lapis lazuli, uvarovite garnet, silver and intensely coloured mineral pigments. Through these combinations he creates works that feel simultaneously ancient and contemporary, drawing on the timeless language of ornament while stripping forms back to their essential elements. Surface plays a central role within his practice. Matte gold, finely textured planes and areas of saturated colour interact delicately with light, creating pieces that reward close and prolonged looking.

Becker’s jewellery is often architectural in structure, composed through quiet geometric relationships and subtle asymmetries. Despite their small scale, the works possess a sculptural presence and emotional weight that extends far beyond adornment. There is a contemplative quality to his practice, where every material decision appears deeply considered and nothing unnecessary remains. His use of gold is particularly distinctive, not as a symbol of opulence, but as a material of warmth, depth and history.

A graduate of the Fachhochschule Cologne, Becker belongs to a generation of German makers who transformed contemporary jewellery through conceptual clarity and exceptional craftsmanship. His work demonstrates an ongoing dialogue between modernist reduction, ancient artefacts and the tactile intimacy of wearable objects.

Michael Becker’s jewellery is held in major international museum collections including the Victoria & Albert Museum, London; Schmuckmuseum, Pforzheim; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris; Musée des arts décoratifs de Montréal; Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg; and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, New York.

Beauty in Geometry

About Michael Becker

Beauty in Geometry

About Michael Becker

Join our mailing list