Gretal Ferguson

Gretal is a Sydney-based jewellery designer and object maker, who combines traditional silversmithing practices with a contemporary aesthetic informed by street art and popular culture.

A former Artist in Residence at the Design Centre Enmore, she has exhibited widely across Australia and her works are permanently stocked at various contemporary jewellery galleries.

Since her years as an undergraduate, Gretal has aspired to study silversmithing in Europe, where there is a strong tradition of the craft. The Birmingham City University School of Jewellery that Gretal will attend is the largest of its kind in Europe, with a 125 year history. Studying at the university will allow her to show her work at several exhibitions, including the Masters graduate show which is habitually attended by galleries and industry professionals looking for new talent, providing the kind of exposure that is vital for an emerging artist.

Birmingham also has numerous studios that run classes in specific silversmithing techniques, which will provide Gretal with the opportunity to be taught by incredibly skilled makers with decades of industry experience.

Gaining a foothold in the European market would prove invaluable to Gretal’s career, and she hopes that the practical experience and professional relationships enabled by her Cultural Trust grant will allow her to establish herself firmly within the jewellery and silversmithing industry.