Liaung-Chung Yen

Liaung-Chung Yen was born and raised in Taiwan and his jewelry and artistic aesthetic is influenced by both Chinese culture and art. By using metaphor in his design, he thinks of his jewelry as small expressions of art, desire, wit or sensuality. He also sees it as small sculptures, documenting the time and the emotion. The work is not to mean to isolate specific meanings, rather suggest a moment of thought where stillness, beauty and illumination can peacefully coexist.

Yen received his Master of Fine Art at Savannah College of Art and Design. Prior to this he studied at the National Taiwan Academy of Art and the Taiwan Provincial Handicraft Research Institute. He received the fellowship from New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) in 2005, Finalist in NICHE Awards in 2009 and 2007, the 2nd place in MJSA Vision award in Natural Color Diamond Category in 2007. He features in the Metalsmith magazine Exhibition in Print 2007, 500 series by lark books, Art Jewelry Today 2, Adorn: New Jewelry. He has participated in a number of exhibitions, including The International Expositions of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art (SOFA), Metal Inclinations 2, “Touching warms the Art” in Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland, Oregon, Cheongju International Craft Biennale in Korea, “Recycle Design Prize” in Germany and “Lagd i verden(Made in the world)” for the National Museum of Art, Design and Architecture in Norway.

Awards and Recognitions

2012
“2nd place, Gold Distinction”, MJSA Vision Award

“NICHE Award finalist”, Jewelry Gold and Silver with Stones

2011
“Finalist, New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship”, Craft/Sculpture

2009
“NICHE Award Finalist”, Recycle

2007
“Second Place, Natural Color Diamond Distinction” in “Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America (MJSA) Vision Award Design Competition”

“NICHE Award Finalist”, Jewelry Gold

2005
“Fellowship, New York Foundation for the Arts”

“Honorable Mention” in “Wearable Expressions 2005-2006″, The Fifth Biennial International Juried Exhibition, Palos Verdes Art Center, Rancho Palos Verdes, California

“First Place” in “Secret Identities”, juried exhibition, Gallery MIM, Baltimore, Maryland

“Honorable Mention” in “Containers/Contained”, Target Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia

1995
“Good Design Award”, “1995 Furniture Design Selection and Competition”, Taiwan

“Excellent Design Award”, “1995 Contest of New Design and Development of Jewelry and Accessories in Taiwan”, Taiwan

Permanent Collections

National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Olso, Norway

Museum of Contemporary Craft Teaching Collection, Portland, OR, USA

Publications

21st Century Jewelry: The Best of 500 Series(2011), Chains Chains Chains(2011), New Rings(2011), 500 Gemstone Jewels: A Sparkling Collection of Dazzling Designs(2010), 500 Plastic Jewelry Designs(2009), Adorn: New Jewelry(2008), 500 Wedding Rings: Celebrating a Classic Symbol of Commitment(2008), Art Jewelry Today 2(2008), 500 Earrings: New Directions in Contemporary Jewelry(2007), The Best of America – Jewelry Artists & Artisans, Volume 1(2007), Metalsmith Exhibition in print 2007, 500 Brooches: Inspiring Adornments for the Body(2005), 1000 Rings: Inspiring Adornments for the Hand(2004), Art Jewelry Today(2003).