Grace Yu Piper

Grace Yu Piper graduated from Whitireia Polytechnic in 2017 with a Bachelor of Applied Arts (Jewellery Design). Stone is her material of choice. "I enjoy the slow pace and meditative aspects of carving. Each piece has to be thought about methodically and calculated – carving is a reductive process so all decisions made are final. Stone has a connection to nature and to place. It is a slow material that counteracts the fast paced and disposable world that we live in."
In 2018 Grace was selected to exhibit at Talente in Germany and in 2019 was selected to exhibit at Schmuck as part of Munich Jewellery Week.

From 2025

A material exploration into the relationship between stone and fabric.

Brooch - Fabric, thread, sterling silver, stainless steel (90 x 70 x 15mm)   $450
Brooch - Rhyolite, paint, sterling silver, stainless steel (55 x 55 x 9mm)   $620
Brooch - Quartz, paint, sterling silver, stainless steel (45 x 25 x 16mm)   $620

From 2024

A material exploration into the relationship between stone and fabric.

Golden Pebble #1, 2024. Brooch, greywacke, paint, sterling silver, stainless steel $620
Golden Pebble #2, 2024. Brooch, fabric, thread, oxidised sterling silver, stainless steel $380

From 2022

Glint #1. Earrings, rhyolite ,cubic zirconia, stg silver, 16 x 40 x 15mm   $350
Glint #2 Earrings, black jade, cubic zirconia, stg silver 13 x 35 x 14mm   $350
Glint #3 Argillite, Earrings, cubic zirconia, stg silver 13 x 35 x 14mm   $350

From 2021

What is an earring? What makes an earring, an earring?
This series is a continuation of my interest in examining and upending the functionalities of jewellery. By bringing earring hooks and butterflies to the front I ask the viewer to consider what is often overlooked or accepted as normal by default. I am intrigued by small details, the unseen and disrupting the order of things.

Hook #1, 2021, Rhyolite, basalt, sterling silver, 20 x 70 x 8mm   $650
Hook #2, 2021, Argillite, sterling silver, 20 x 78 x 8mm   $650
Hook #3, 2021, Rhyolite, basalt, sterling silver, 19 x 26 x 14mm   $500

Butterfly #1, 2021, Greywacke, black jade (Australia), sterling silver, 13 x 13 x 21mm $550
Butterfly #2, 2021, Basalt, sterling silver, 21 x 50 x 8mm $550

From 2020

‘Wave’ Brooch Jadite (China) sterling, stainless steel   $580
‘Ripple’ Brooch Basalt (NZ) sterling, stainless steel   $580
‘Void’ Brooch Basalt (NZ) sterling, stainless steel   $580

From 2019

Playing Catch

This series is a manifestation of my interest in examining and upending the functionalities of jewellery. I have taken the practical aspect of the clasp and turned it into the focal point. No element is superfluous or decorative, every aspect has functional reasoning behind it. Minimal and androgynous by its very nature.

Each piece acts as a little puzzle, two halves that slot into each other to become one. This forces an initial interaction with the wearer and introduces a tactile connection with the object.