About
Elfi's design process is often stimulated by her observations of nature, natural materials, shapes and phenomena, but she also finds inspiration in urban culture and current affairs. She constantly searches for new means of creative expression and likes to explore the use of jewellery-unlike materials, challenge preconceived ideas of preciousness, style and the meaning of jewellery objects:
“I like to develop new ways of seeing, wearing and maybe even defining jewellery and object art."
Her European background and training shows in her aesthetics and designs but her concepts are more and more influenced by her new home New Zealand. Her work is featured in private and public art collections.
Born in Germany, Elfi gained her practical training as a qualified goldsmith at the Goldsmith & Watchmakers School, Pforzheim in 1990 and a BA in Jewellery & Object Design at the University College of Design also in Pforzheim in 1996.
She has been a full time contemporary jewellery artist and designer ever since.
In 1999 she immigrated to New Zealand and established The Filing Kabinett, a jewellery workshop/ studio co-op.
Her work has been widely exhibited in group and solo shows in private und public Art Galleries throughout New Zealand, Germany, The Netherlands, USA and Australia since 1993. She has been a finalist in several art award competitions and her work is held in private collections internationally.
Besides co-running The Filing Kabinett workshop and shop at The Tannery in Christchurch, designing and making jewellery for Galleries and private clients, she mostly enjoys the challenge of developing new work for exhibitions, pushing boundaries of