Raised in Osaka, Japan, Yayoi Inada expresses her stories and experiences through her work. Once an account executive for an advertising agency in Japan, Inada felt her creativity being stifled and broke free from the corporate world to explore her creative desires. She made the decision to follow her passion and moved to New York to study jewelry design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. With her new education, her passion became a reality in 2003 as she launched her collection, Yayoi Forest Jewelry.
Her childhood of living near a forest plays an important role in her inspiration. As a child, she was drawn to the calm and complete feeling she experienced when observing the natural beauty. The whimsical pieces channel this energy through their design.
The artist believes her pieces should be worn as lucky charms, allowing the owner to create a deeper connection, beyond aesthetics. Symbols such as birds in flight or trees of life, resonate feelings of hope and happiness, and are incorporated into the jewelry to bring depth and meaning to the collections.
Specializing in hand-etching techniques, Inada works from her jewelry studio in Brooklyn, individually crafting each piece. All of her designs are made of 14-karat gold or sterling silver. To view her full collection, visit www.GalleryForest.com.
