about
Since 2006, jewelry artist Ela Nord has been developing a distinctive approach: she transforms everyday and industrial materials into extraordinary jewelry. While she also works with precious metals and stones, she unlocks the potential of materials like tubing or silk cocoons and turns them into wearable artworks. Often, coherent series emerge that explore a particular theme or material. Her work is not solely motivated by aesthetics, but pursues conceptual approaches and frequently engages with sociopolitical issues.
After studying art history and archaeology in Vienna and Salzburg, she worked in various institutions and galleries such as Museumsquartier Wien; Werkstatt für Kunstsiebdruck Andreas Stalzer, Vienna; architects Jabornegg & Pálffy, Vienna; Neue Galerie der Stadt Linz e.g. 2004-2016 she was Heimo Zobernig's artistic assistant. In 2019 she received official recognition as an artist from the Berufsverband Bildender Künstler Österreichs.
Shows (selection)
2026 Austrian Landscapes – Genius Loci, ein Projekt der Kunstinitiative ZwischenLand, Galerie Helmut Hable, Straden
2025 Verbindungen, Alexander Damianisch, Josseline Engeler, Michael Koch, Ulrike Königshofer, Ela Nord, Georg Petermichl, Martin Sulzbacher, Kunstraum Perg
2025 Lü ckenfüller. 30 österreichische Schmuckpositionen, NYCJW 2025, PRATT Institute, New York
2025 Design without Borders, Kiscell Museum, Budapest
2025 Lü ckenfüller. 31 österreichische Schmuckpositionen“ Schmuck München 2025
2024 Wearing RED, Ignite The Fire, Pistachios Contemporary Art Jewelry, Chicago
2024 pebbels & pottery with Stephie Morawetz, Galerie moha, Klosterneuburg
2024 42()24 Gespiegelt. '42' is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything, Gallery V&V, Vienna
2024 Wearing RED, Ignite The Fire, Ombré Gallery, Cincinnati
2024 AUTOR, Bucharest
2024 Wearing RED, Ignite The Fire, Patina Gallery, Santa Fe
2023 Wearing RED, Ignite The Fire, Charon Kransen Arts, New York
2023 Contemporania Barcelona, Barcelona
2023 Fake Forest, Gallery V&V, Vienna
2023 AUTOR, Bucharest
2021 One Gram, Plattform Schmuckkunst, Graz
2020 Mulberry Tubes“, Gallery Göttlicher, Krems-Stein (Solo Show)
2020 Ela Nord, solo show, Berchtoldvilla, Salzburg (Solo Show)
2018 Brazil, KAYIKO Vienna (Solo Show and performance)
2015 Flatnubs,KAYIKO, Vienna (Solo Show)
Awards
2023 Autor Awesome Award, Bucharest
Projects
Not Only Decoration, Wien (Board)
Open Space, Ausstellungsraum für zeitgenössische Kunst, Wien (Curator)