'Matariki Star & Cloak', NZ Academy of Fine Arts

by Mia Straka


Matariki is becoming one of the most significant celebrations on Aotearoa’s calendar. Matariki is sometimes called ‘Maori New Year’ and is named after the constellation of that name (also known as Pleiades), which has signalled a time for planting and reflection, sharing knowledge and making new beginnings.

'Time Traveller' Necklace, oxidized stg silver, 24ct gold leaf, 85mm x 45mm

 'Midnight' Necklace, oxidised stg silver, 85mm x 55mm

'Wheel Amulet' Necklace, Dyed muka, oxidised silver

These pieces work as a series, inspired by the legend of Tane ascending to the heavens to retrieve the three kete (baskets) of knowledge for the enlightenment of humankind.

Kete Aronui is the basket of knowledge of aroha, peace and the arts and crafts which benefit the Earth and all living things. Kete Tūātea is the basket of knowledge of evil, including war. Kete Tūāuri is the basket of knowledge of karakia (ritual chants) connected with Earth and sky and the control of all things performed by the offspring of Papa-tū-ā-nuku
— Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 123

'Neckware 10' Masterworks Gallery

by Mia Straka


A group show curated by Warwick Freeman.

This pendant continues my exploration into forms for containment and the dynamics between interior/exterior space, public versus private, containment and freedom. References to traditional crafts are implicit in the materials used, dyed muka and silver.

Muka (harakeke/flax fibre), oxidised silver


'Sifted' a short film by Dan Monaghan

by Mia Straka


New Zealand animated short-film Sifted is the first live action film to be produced in what is known as a 'Point Cloud world', which is where 3D points gathered from many photos of the same object are used to calculate their 3D form.

The film follows a female character (Mia Straka) as she walks through a 3D animated land that has been constructed from thousands of photographs of places throughout New Zealand and the world.

Directed by Dan Monaghan, VFX Software Developer Ben Torkington, Music Nick Buckton, Starring Mia Straka. Made in New Zealand with the help of Creative New Zealand and The New Zealand Film Commission. 


White Night-Auckland Arts Festival 2013

by Mia Straka


On Wednesday 16th March in a city-wide event, contemporary art took over multiple venues and public spaces across Auckland. Thousands of visitors were treated to sensory, interactive exhibits by a diverse array of emerging and established artists. This was the second installation of works being made as part of the Talisman Project, to be shown in it's entirety at Objectspace, Ponsonby road in May 2014.  

Three sculptures, two mannequins and a pendant.​


Art Mile- Auckland Art Week 2012

by Mia Straka


Talisman project Installation # 1

This installation is the first in a series of events leading up to a multi-media collaborative exhibition to be launched at Objectspace, Ponsonby Road in June 2014. 'Hanging Object # 1 is the first object made for the project, from black straws and hemp cord. You can wear it if you dare.

'Working mainly in the field of contemporary jeweller my practice to date has been focused on making smaller scale wearable works. I'm interested in how objects may over time be imbued with soul and meaning. These larger scale works continue this line of thought; expanding the scale to alter the object's relationship to the body, playing with space and material.'

​Installed in the window of Jamie Boutique, Ponsonby Road (blind closed for documentation).

Shown alongside Hanging Object # 1 is an unnamed construction of concentric circles cut from clear acrylic plastic strung on black elastic. This was made to contain, protect and display the object within while existing as a sculptural form in it's own right.

​No One, pendant 2010, oxidised silver, dyed muka.

The object within. Also one of the first visual references for objects to be made in the Talisman Project.


The Great Samoan Volunteer Trip 2012

by Mia Straka


A two week volunteer trip in September 2012 within a group of 9, organised by NZ charity Spinning Top to improve children's shelters run by Samoan Victim Support Group.

Mural design references the 'Poutama' stepped pattern traditionally used in tukutuku woven wall patterns in Maori meeting houses. The pattern is also known as 'Stairway to Heaven' and refers to man's search for knowledge, growth and wisdom.  

Mapping out a plan with our Resene test pots.

Mapping out a plan with our Resene test pots.

We helped the kids to make stencils of their own designs to use in the mural.

We helped the kids to make stencils of their own designs to use in the mural.

Voila! Wall mural painted in collaboration with Hannah Wilson. 


Winter Brooch 2012- Royal Jewellery Studio

by Mia Straka


'These brooches are made as a triptych, one leading to the other in a gradual collapsing of form. The de-structuring process adds an element of chance; with forms folding in on themselves, bending and twisting as they go.'

Cycle Brooch, 2012, sterling silver.

​Folding Brooch 2012, partially oxidised silver.

Freeflow Brooch 2012, partially oxidised silver.​


'The Stone Age'- Fashion Quarterly, Autumn 2012

by Mia Straka


Fashion editorial styled by Chris Lorimer, featuring jewellery from the 'Rusty Chains' boutique series.

Clasp Necklace, bronze key, brass fitting and antiqued brass chain

'Hinge' Necklace, found materials enamel and brass.​


Jewelism-Materials into Ideas ⁄ Ideas into Materials

by Mia Straka


Running concurrently with JEMposium, the international Contemporary Jewellery Symposium 
held in Wellington, this exhibition features two works from each of the selected artists, 
one based on 'Materials into Ideas' and one on 'Ideas into Materials'

​Wishbone Neckpiece 2008, bone, silver

For me the beauty in a successful piece is the melding of concept, material, technique and form. Usually the process cannot be separated easily between concept and material but I have chosen a work from my collection that could not exist in any other material and made another in response, moulding the material to express an idea.

​Wishbone Pendant 2012, bone, muka cord.


Zeitgeist Shrapnel-Fingers Jewellery 2011

by Mia Straka


"When Fingers began in 1974 we were a group of people making jewellery. Some had more concerns with ideas in their work than others. 'Guaranteed Trash' in 1976 responded to the punk movement of the time. Shows such as 'Worn Out Art' in 1979 included visual artists and Daniel Clasby even wore a smoked fish as a necktie. Theme shows such as 'Bone' and 'Paua Dreams' in the 80's were largely material based however they did reflect the Zeitgeist of the time dealing with Aotearoa and Pacific identity. By 1989 'New Medals' was dealing with political issues.

Since those days some fine contemporary jewellers have graduated from Tertiary Visual Arts courses. I am delighted that the Fingers Shopgirls, all graduates from such courses, are honouring those early shows with 'Zeitgeist Shrapnel' moving on from the old and dealing with ideas from now."

Alan Preston, 2011

'Desert Gold' Necklace 2011, 'Desert Camouflage' army surplus fabric, brass

'Seed'  Necklace 2011, silver electroformed plastic, paint, muka, rubber, dirt, quinoa seeds.

'Time Machine' Necklace  2011, rubber, plastic, polyester thread.

​'Super Massive Black Hole' Neckpiece 2011, plastic, rubber, brass, polyester cord.

Zeitgeist Shrapnel (a.k.a. the shopgirl show!) is where we are as makers in this place, at this time, right now, while reflecting on why people made contemporary jewellery when Fingers first opened 37 years ago.
— Mia Straka, Octavia Cook, Philippa Crane, Renee Bevan, 2011

​'33.3g' Necklace 2011, rubber, brass, muka, oxidised silver.

​'Payload' Pendant 2011, canvas, brass, muka cord, pumice.

The best way to escape a problem is to solve it
— Wah Lee Fortune Cookie 2011

'Neckware 8' Masterworks Gallery

by Mia Straka


Guest selected by Rhana Davenport with Eloise Kitson.

 'Quiet Revolution' Necklace

Oxidised 18ct gold, oxidised stg silver, rubber coated electrical wire cord, hearing aid parts (clasp not shown), enamel paint

A musing on adaptation.
— Mia Straka

Broach of the Month Club 2011- BOM Masterworks

by Mia Straka


A collaborative year long project between 12 makers, 12 wearers and 12 brooches. 12 makers are chosen and asked to make/supply a brooch for the year long project. Each month one of the 12 wearers receives one of the 12 brooches to wear for that month and documents their experiences, observations and interactions while wearing the piece. This is documented on a blog and collated into a journal to be shared at the end of the year. 

WEAVE, PROTECT, CONTAIN, RESTRICT,  PUBLIC, PRIVATE, STRUCTURE, FREEDOM, COMMUNICATE, INTERACT, SUPPORT, SIGNIFY, MOBILITY, CHAOS


Model/jewellery 2011

by Mia Straka


Experiments into new materials and surrealist techniques resulting from a week long master-class workshop at RMIT (Melbourne) in February 2011 with acclaimed Dutch jeweller Manon Van Kouswijk.. Shown in the 'Jewellery Box' at Masterworks Gallery March 2011.

​Experimental series of 'chains' in PVC, silk cord and polyester thread.

These chains began as a project where I tracked the tar lines mapping the subterranean veins of Melbourne’s CBD, During the workshop in Melbourne the second major earthquake to devastate Christchurch struck, February 11th 2011.

Continuing the material explorations back in New Zealand, I was making these ‘chains’ as news broke of the catastrophic Tsunami in Japan.

It was this point allusions to mourning jewellery, worry beads and collapsing structures began to creep into the work.

Chenier Necklace, PVC, silk cord

Broke Weave Necklace, PVC, silk cord, polyester thread

CC Jet Necklace, PVC, silk cord, polyester thread