Peter Machata
Peter Machata is a jewelry artist who graduated from Jozef Jankovič’s sculpture studio at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava. His artistic journey has taken him from traditional sculpture to jewelry design, where he approaches jewelry as small sculptures. His work is characterized by a strong emphasis on relief, plastic formation, and box-like structures, and he consistently builds the syntax of his jewelry based on these principles.
Initially, his jewelry featured geometric and abstract designs, but he later shifted to figurative metaphors, blending elements of religiousness or spirituality. In his collection called “Saintly Relics,” he introduced a heretical approach by incorporating the iconography of the Pieta, creating boxes with realistically depicted fingers adorned with engagement rings. This collection highlights the theme of marriage and love within the context of religious iconography.
Peter Machata is known for his participative approach to jewelry making. He sometimes reconstructs jewelry originally designed by other artists, and at other times, he involves the potential wearer in a cooperative game. In one of his recent series, he has created provocative amulets and talismans, further engaging the wearer in the artistic experience.
While he initially worked mainly in silver, Machata has expanded his materials to include plastic/corian. This choice allows him to conduct sophisticated experiments in his work by using CNC milling machines and scanners, pushing the boundaries of traditional jewelry design. His innovative use of materials and technology adds a contemporary dimension to his artistic expression.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1997 – Grays, Gallery Duna, Bratislava (SK)
1999 – Machatová – Machata, Gallery Kopa, Košice (SK)
2000 – Machatová – Machata, Gallery V&V, Wien (AT)
2004 – Ag 0,6mm, with Jana Machatová ÚĽUV Gallery, Bratislava (SK)
2010 – Neverending story, ÚĽUV Gallery , Bratislava (SK)
2013 – Ready to wear, with Jana Machatová, Orava Gallery, Dolný Kubín (SK)
2014 – Jana Machatová – Peter Machata, K. Gallery, Bratislava (SK)
2016 – Expecting a miracle, with Jana Machatová, Gallery Čin Čin, Bratislava (SK)
2016 – Private expeditions, with Jana Machatová, Ernest Zmetak art Gallery, Nové Zámky, (SK)
2017 – On the Roads, with Jana Machatová, RONA Gallery, Lednické Rovne, (SK)
2018 – 1/1, with Jana Machatová, Gallery Magna, Piešťany, (SK)
– 1+1, with Jana Machatová,Gallery NOVA, Bratislava, (SK)
– 20+, with Jana Machatová, Rosenfeld Palace, Žilina, (SK)
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS
1999 – Schmuck 99, Munich /D/
2001 – Jewellery – New Generation, The Embassy of the Slovak Republik, London /GB/
2002 – Schmuck 2002, Munich /D
2003 – Valuable Links – Jewels from the OSCE Countries, Centre Céramique, Maastricht /NL/
– Schmuck 2004, Munich /D/
2008 – We/You/Together, Gallery Medium, Bratislava/SK
2009 – TBD Kingdom, Gallery Medium, Bratislava/SK
2012 – Who cares, ÚĽUV Gallery, Bratislava/SK/
– Burbulas,Bubble,Bublina,Burbulis, Arka Gallery, Vilnius /LT/, Riga /LV/
2014 – Clasic, Gallery of Art in Legnica, Legnica /PL/
2016 – Schmuck 2016, Munich /D/
– 4×4, jewellery exhibition, Gallery X, Bratislava/SK/
– Hunters of lists, Gallery Medium, Bratislava/SK/
2017 – Zona bez hranic, Gallery N, Jablonec Nad Nisou /CZ/
– Schmuck 2017, Munich/D/
2018 – Zóna bez hraníc, Gallery SmetanaQ, Praha/CZ/, Gallery Umelka, Bratislava /SK/, Muzeum Miedzi, Legnica /PL/
SYMPOSIUMS
1994 – International Granit Sculpture Symposium, Scarrborough /CND/
1995 – II. International Jewel Symposium, Ars Ornata Europeana, Bratislava /SK/
– II.International Art Workshop, Lamparna, Labin /CRO/
1997 – Kunst der Welt – Kunst der Regionen, Kassel /D/
1998 – Symposium of Three Countries, Rusovce /SK/
– International Art Symposium, Osrblie /SK/
– I. International Stone Symposium ,Umenie v kúpeľoch, Lúčky /SK /
1999 – II. International Stone Symposium ,Umenie v kúpeľoch, Lúčky /SK/
2001 – IV. International Stone Symposium,Umenie v kúpeľoch, Lúčky /SK/
2003 – International Jewel Symposium, Modré z neba, Kremnica /SK/
2006 – VI. International Stone Symposium, Landek, Ostrava /CZ/
2008 – TB Dalane kunsprosjekt, Dalane, /NO/
2009 – Múr národov 2009 , Vyšné Ružbachy/SK/
2016 – 21th international symposium of artistic jewellery Kremnica 2016, Kremnica/SK/