Citizen Brooklyn

Photo © Emiko Oye

Small, versatile and popular with kids and their grown-up counterparts, LEGOs represent a world unto itself. It was only a matter of time before these colourful bricks were transformed into jewelry, and while there are some pretty pieces out there, San Francisco artist Emiko Oye takes recycled LEGO jewelry to new heights with her unique works that look almost like precious sculptures.

Photo © Emiko Oye

Using salvaged materials, Oye sees “Jewelry as a seductive vehicle for awareness”:

In her sculptural work, alternative materials such as factory scraps, discarded toys and LEGO®, and sands from US internment camps are utilized to spark discourse on current socio-political issues. Topics of focus are consumerism and value, corporate greed and the media, and war and civil rights violations.

Besides re-using LEGOs, Oye utilizes small amounts of semi-precious stones, silver and gold to add a bit of glamour to these recycled necklaces, bracelets and earrings, all of which have a tasteful colour palette.

Photo © Emiko Oye

Photo © Emiko Oye

Photo © Emiko Oye

Photo © Emiko Oye

Oye is also inspired by classic jewelry forms, which she re-invents with LEGO and various other recycled materials (makeup brushes, cording, Connectix, recycled electronics cables). The resulting works are elegant and dramatic — quite a contrast from a plain old LEGO brick!

Photo © Emiko Oye

Photo © Emiko Oye

Using a discerning eye and a careful selection of materials that are well-integrated together, Oye’s works show that even the most mundane of things can be transformed into wearable pieces of art. More images and ordering info over at Emiko Oye’s website.