Karl Fritsch

Germany/New Zealand, b. 1963

Karl Fritsch is a German-born, New Zealand based artist renowned for his iconoclastic reinterpretations of jewellery tradition. Using precious materials – gold, diamonds, sapphires – alongside semi-precious and synthetic stones, silver and even aluminium, Karl’s forms challenge accepted notions of preciousness and beauty with wit and irreverence. His highly covetable rings have seen him win numerous awards, including the Francoise van den Bosch Award (2006), and become a cult figure in contemporary jewellery.

 

Karl began his education at the Goldsmiths School in Pforzheim and later studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich under Professors Hermann Jünger and Otto Künzli. Fritsch exhibits internationally, at fine art galleries and jewellery galleries alike. His work has been acquired by leading international museums and public collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; Pinakothek of Modern Art, Munich; Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Museum Turnov/Czech Republic; Museum of Decorative Arts, Montréal/Canada; Victoria and Albert Museum, London; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; Auckland Museum, New Zealand and Te Papa National Museum, Wellington.

 

“What I find really fascinating, and one of the reasons why it’s so interesting to make jewellery, is the moment of recognition when something that comes across cute and pretty has on second glimpse an almost obscene grotesqueness.” Karl Fritsch

 



Ring , 2023, blackened silver cubic zirconia

More work by Karl Fritsch

Ring F7 by Karl Fritsch Ring F7 , 2023, blackened silver, cubic zirconia ,
Ring F1 by Karl Fritsch Ring F1 , 2023, palladium white gold, synthetic sapphire and ruby, cubic zirconia ,
Ring #700 by Karl Fritsch Ring #700 , 2019, silver, sapphires ,
Ring #401 by Karl Fritsch Ring #401 , 2007, 18k palladium white gold ,
Ring #432 by Karl Fritsch Ring #432 , 2018, silver, 9k gold ,
Ring #254 by Karl Fritsch Ring #254 , 2010, blackened silver, black diamonds ,
Ring #437 by Karl Fritsch Ring #437 , 2017, Roman bronze ring (BC) ,
Ring F6 by Karl Fritsch Ring F6 , 2023, blackened silver, cubic zirconia ,
Ring #442 by Karl Fritsch Ring #442 , 2018, 18k gold ,
Ring #430 by Karl Fritsch Ring #430 , 2017, shibuichi ,
Ring F4 by Karl Fritsch Ring F4 , 2023, blackened silver, cubic zirconia ,
Ring #486 by Karl Fritsch Ring #486 , 2019, 9k palladium white gold, rubies ,
Ring #451 by Karl Fritsch Ring #451 , 2019, 9k palladium white gold, cubic zirconia ,
Ring #463 by Karl Fritsch Ring #463 , 2019, 9k palladium white gold ,
Ring #471 by Karl Fritsch Ring #471 , 2019, blackened silver, cubic zirconia ,
Ring F9 by Karl Fritsch Ring F9 , 2017, silver ,
Ring F11 by Karl Fritsch Ring F11 , 2017, silver ,
Ring F3 by Karl Fritsch Ring F3 , 2023, palladium white gold, synthetic sapphire and ruby, cubic zirconia ,
Ring #431 by Karl Fritsch Ring #431 , 2017, silver ,
Ring F13 by Karl Fritsch Ring F13 , 2023, white gold, yellow gold (oxidised), 1ct diamond ,
Ring F12 by Karl Fritsch Ring F12 , 2023, 10k gold, silver ,
Ring F2 by Karl Fritsch Ring F2 , 2023, 18k gold, synthetic sapphire, cubic zirconia ,

Exhibitions

KARL & LISA

14 May - 15 June, 2019

Karl Fritsch and Lisa Walker have been at the forefront of contemporary jewellery for over 20 years, constantly pushing and questioning what jewellery is and can be.

Yodel

July 8 to August 9, 2014

Gallery Funaki presents a new body of work from Karl Fritsch.  Selected works will also be shown from a recent collaboration between Fritsch and Auckland based photographer Gavin Hipkins.

Die Allgäuer Ringmaschine

September 3 to 15, 2012

Collected with passion by fashion and art movers and shakers, and awarded the highest honours in contemporary jewellery, Fritsch’s work is also held in public collections worldwide.

20/20

October 6 - 31, 2015

Gallery Funaki celebrates its 20th anniversary with an exhibition by some of our longest-standing artists.

2016 Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery

August 24 - September 24, 2016

The Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery is a biennial international Award that showcases excellence in international and Australian contemporary jewellery.  35 artists have been shortlisted from an international field of 413 entries from 48 countries.