Title shamelessly stolen from the Bellevue Arts Museum.

American goldsmith Mary Lee Hu is known the world over for her innovative use of textile techniques in weaving precious metals to form utterly unique wearable pieces. She is considered something of a jeweler’s jeweler, garnering attention and gathering awards throughout the art jewelry community. Her most iconic works

Not content just to make beautiful things, Hu first educated herself about the history of adornment. Her work, therefore, shows references to many historic styles of jewelry. Her extensive knowledge of historic shapes and techniques has also made her an ideal teacher. Hu is a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle. She has received three NEA Craftsman Fellowships, and her pieces are included in many prestigious collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Renwick Gallery, the American Crafts Museum, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Mary Lee Hu doesn’t seem to have a web presence, but I guess she doesn’t really need one. There’s plenty of word-of-mouth publicity about her, and she’s already in such demand, she doesn’t seem to need to market herself at all. Good for her!

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Jewelry designer Mary Lee Hu shares the story of her development as an artist starting in the mid-1960s, leading into her impressive career as an innovative artist and teacher. Read more to see how she creates seemingly effortless, one-of-a-kind forms that merge fiber art techniques with precious metal!⠀ ⠀ ⚡️⠀ ⠀ #RioJeweler #handmadejewelry #jewelrydesigners #RioBlog #benchjeweler #goldsmith #ladysmith #maryleehu #maryleehujewelry #wirework #wire #master #formation #linkinbio👆

A post shared by Rio Grande Jewelry Supplies (@riogrande) on Jun 26, 2017 at 1:31pm PDT

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This is just incredible . It's always amazing to see a masters work! Makes me feel like I'm well on my way to achieving goals !!!!#maryleehu #og #wire #gangster

A post shared by Kirk Runyon (@futureartifacts) on Jan 18, 2017 at 9:08am PST

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Mary Lee Hu is a metalsmith and long-time partner of the Museum’s founding director, James Wallace. She was the 1994 Master Metalsmith and her work is in both public and private collections worldwide. Hu is known for incorporating weaving, knitting, and other textile processes into her work, which she began after taking a fiber arts course during her graduate studies. You can see this piece, "Choker #40," in our Crafting A Legacy exhibition. On view through May 12. image: Mary Lee Hu, "Choker #40," 1978. Fine silver, sterling silver, gold, copper. Photo by Houston Cofield.

A post shared by Metal Museum (@metalmuseum) on Mar 28, 2019 at 10:10am PDT

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#maryleehu

A post shared by Amy Brener (@amybrener) on Oct 6, 2016 at 1:46pm PDT

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Neckpiece in silver with garnets, by Mary Lee Hu, 1974. #maryleehu #artjewelry #designerjewelry

A post shared by Elena Veselaya (@twentyonejewels) on Jul 20, 2016 at 10:00am PDT

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Mary Lee Hu, Choker No. 91, 2013, 18k & 22k gold, photo: Daniel Fox, Lumina Photography . Mary Lee Hu has been working with round wire for over fifty years. She incorporates techniques from the textile field including knitting, basketry, weaving, coiling, twining, twisting, and wrapping. . #maryleehu #knitted #knotted #twisted #twined #woven #collar #ajfishere #goldnecklace #botanical #twing #curling #wirework #mastery #gold

A post shared by Facèré Jewelry Art Gallery (@faceregallery) on Dec 3, 2017 at 2:04pm PST

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Mary Lee Hu is a world leader in this technique. #maryleehu #metalworks #bsu

A post shared by bluhawaii (@bluhawaii) on Oct 26, 2013 at 12:18pm PDT

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Found by @levi_h: 'This enthralling #necklace is made of #woven #gold by #Seattle artist #MaryLeeHu. Her #jewelry is featured at the @metmuseum of #art but can be found all over the country, especially in the #pacificnorthwest.

A post shared by LoveGold (@lovegoldlive) on May 14, 2013 at 10:22am PDT

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One of my favorite jewelers, Mary Lee Hu, made this necklace on display at the @yaleartgallery in 1976. Entitled "Neckpiece # 26," this sterling silver and 14k gold structure utilizes Hu's signature technique of meshing textile design with actual wirework to blend two mediums perfectly. It simultaneously feels sinuous, like it could be Art Nouveau, but then fits perfectly within feminist 1960s and 70s fiber art. Hu was educated in part at @cranbrook_art, one of my favorite places ever, and a hotbed for inspiring craft. 〰

A post shared by Levi Higgs (@levi_higgs) on Jul 19, 2016 at 2:58pm PDT

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SNAG Conference Speaker Mary Lee Hu: THOUGHTS FROM A JEWELRY FANATIC Looking back over her career, Mary Lee Hu will discuss some thoughts on our jewelry field – gleaned from her travels and extensive reading about the history of body adornment – and how these have affected her work. Registration for #snagboston is open! We will be posting speaker, program, and location highlights over the next few weeks, but you can check out the whole shebang at snagmetalsmith.com.

A post shared by SNAG (@snagmetalsmith) on Mar 11, 2015 at 6:56am PDT

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Using fine silver and lacquered copper wire, the intricacy and design of Mary Lee Hu's work is breathtaking. #inspiration #woven #instajewelry #design #wire #intricate #jewelry #design #maryleehu #jewellery #handmade #necklace #contemporaryjewellery

A post shared by Eclectic Artisans Jewellery (@the_eclectic_artisans) on Nov 10, 2015 at 11:06am PST

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#MaryLeeHu

A post shared by Anna Scalzi (@scalziilo) on Dec 6, 2016 at 12:00pm PST