Klára Marie Bliss: When Something Is Too Beautiful, I Can’t Connect with It

Flowers that wilt before they have the chance to bloom. Shells that aren’t perfect but carry a story. And the courage to start from scratch—without school, without templates, guided only by intuition.

Klára Marie Bliss is one of the most distinctive voices on the emerging Czech jewelry scene. Her work hovers between sculpture and ornament, between folklore and the sea. This unique duality earned her the Czech Grand Design award. We met in her studio at SmetanaQ—a space filled with the scent of candles, lemons, and the boldness to be different.

Your journey took you from Australia to Belgium and then to the Czech Republic. Has this path left a mark on your work?

Each country shaped a different part of my life. Australia was a dreamlike childhood—the ocean, a sense of freedom. Belgium gave me cultural depth and a different relationship with aesthetics. And the Czech Republic? That’s my soul. I’m proud to be Slavic. I love Czech folklore, organic shapes, and symbolism. My jewelry is really a mosaic of all these worlds.

You studied costume design. Are you tempted to return to the theater?

Absolutely. Costume was my first love—I adore the theater. My dad is a cameraman, my brother works in theater, so it’s in the family. Theater is team alchemy, while jewelry is an intimate ritual. But I’m fascinated by both worlds. I’m just waiting for the right project—something dark, artsy, something that digs deep into emotion.

You came to jewelry without any formal training. What was that like?

Intense. One mental breakdown after another. I knew what I wanted to create, but it was incredibly challenging. I learned from YouTube, books, and trial and error. But that led to techniques that aren’t textbook. I often think I’m not a “real” jeweler. But maybe that’s exactly why I have the courage to create differently. My jewelry isn’t a product of formal education, it’s a result of intuition—and that’s what makes it unique.

Would you say that lack of formal training is actually an advantage?

I think so. I’m more interested in asking: What is jewelry, really? An object, a shape, an emotion? It’s not traditional goldsmithing—it’s a signature. It’s like giving armor to a seashell—a fragile thing that suddenly has strength. That contrast excites me.

Your jewelry often looks like discovered relics. What are you looking for in those pieces?

Belgium taught me to find beauty in the unusual. Dried flowers, broken shells—they’re not conventionally beautiful, but they have character. I like disrupting the ideal. When something is too pretty, I can’t relate to it. My flowers are wilted, my shells unpolished. But they have soul. And that turns them into amulets. Carriers of strength.

I’m proud to be Slavic. I love Czech folklore, organic shapes, and symbolism. My jewelry is really a mosaic of all these worlds.

Mythical themes often appear in your work. Where does that interest come from?

I love archetypes. Sirens, banshees, rusalkas. Myths teach us about ourselves—they’re mirrors. Like fairy tales for adults that carry strength, sorrow, and beauty all at once. Mythology shows us who we are—or who we’re afraid to become.

In your collaboration with Furiosa, you translated this fragility into the most durable material. What was that process like?

It was a beautiful symbiosis. Taking pearls, starfish, sirens—and dressing them in stainless steel armor. And they gave me complete creative freedom. That’s a dream for any artist. I had this idea floating in my head for a while, so I’m thrilled I could turn it into reality. I think the Czech Grand Design award helped open the door to that collaboration.

What did it feel like when they announced your name and you became Jewelry Designer of the Year 2023?

Unbelievable. Total shock. For a long time, I didn’t think it was possible. Classic imposter syndrome. But that win told me that my path makes sense. That what I do has value. It felt like a stamp of approval, affirming that I should keep going.

That’s my soul. I’m proud to be Slavic. I love Czech folklore, organic shapes, and symbolism. My jewelry is really a mosaic of all these worlds.

What can we look forward to from you next?

Starting in June, you’ll find my jewelry at LulaVintage Store, which is honestly a dream match for me. I have a soft spot for vintage—most of my wardrobe is vintage. My collection with Furiosa is currently live, and I’m also working on a new personal collection. Fewer flowers, fewer shells. I feel like I’m evolving. And that’s a good thing.

What piece of jewelry do you personally love the most?

Bracelets. Even though they’re the least sold. But they’re beautiful—you see them all the time, they live with you. I wear at least two every day. They feel like my signature.