By: Avery Sullivan
In the world of contemporary jewelry, few artists are as capable of reshaping the medium’s boundaries as Korean-born artist and metalsmith, Young Jun Kim. Blending metalwork, narrative, and cultural identity, and sculptural sophistication, Kim’s work stands at the intersection of adornment and conceptual art. His upcoming trajectory is defined not just by the jewelry he creates, but by the platforms that seek his voice – platforms that shape the future of the field. Young Jun Kim is poised to make waves in the luxury jewelry world as he continues his collaboration with Krainz Creations, a renowned New York-based atelier. Over the next few years, Kim will lead the development of exclusive collections, ranging from limited-edition pieces to high-jewelry lines, firmly establishing his status as a visionary in the realm of luxury jewelry design. In a bold move to expand his creative vision, Kim is also set to launch his original collaborative luxury jewelry brand, blending his unique design language with the expertise of other talented professionals. Through curated exhibitions and prestigious international design competitions, Kim’s upcoming collections will captivate a global audience, reaffirming his place as a visionary in the luxury jewelry industry.
Foundations of Recognition: Signature Works and Prestigious Platforms
Young Jun Kim’s artistic ascent has been marked by a series of acclaimed works that established him as a force in contemporary jewelry. Each project reflects not only personal themes but also a deep understanding of materiality and storytelling.
Kim’s Dream Catcher Brooch earned a coveted spot in the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) Juried Exhibition in 2023 and the SNAG Metalsmith Magazine Editorial Photocall, signifying recognition from a leading professional organization in the field. The exhibition showcases leading artists and features a diverse array of outstanding works from talents across North America, celebrating innovation, craftsmanship, and conceptual depth. It is juried by industry professionals who assess submissions based on technical mastery, artistic innovation, and conceptual depth. Additionally, being spotlighted on SNAG’s official virtual exhibition and Metalsmith Magazine – one of the widely respected digital publications in the contemporary jewelry world – boosts his visibility and recognition within the academic and industry circles, signifying recognition from a premier professional organization in the field. The Dream Catcher Brooch, entirely hand-fabricated and studded with rubies, embodied Kim’s narrative-driven approach. Its symbolism – using concentric rings to represent filtered dreams – was a visual mediation on aspiration and protection.
It later featured prominently at NYC Jewelry Week’s Lindstrom X Pratt Exhibition, a highly regarded event where some of the most accomplished designers in the field come together to present innovative work, foster dialogue, and elevate jewelry as an evolving art form, industry, and cultural force. Kim’s inclusion in such a prestigious and carefully curated platform placed him among the leading conceptual jewelry artists in the country, further affirming his growing influence and critical recognition within the field.
Equally impactful was Kim’s Medaille Boutonniere, selected as one of only three top winners in the Platinum Guild International Platinum Design DNA Awards. Known for its exacting standards and juried by renowned figures from National Jeweler, Featherstone Designs, and The Adventurine, the competition spotlighted Kim’s aptitude with platinum, a notoriously complex metal. The medal was later featured in the Pratt Jewelry Junior Exhibition, further amplified through social media by the institution.
Kim’s deeply personal piece, the Forgotten Medal, was showcased in the Society of Arts and Crafts (SAC) Juried Exhibition, The Nature of Imperfection: Jewelry and Adornment. The SAC is one of the oldest nonprofit craft organizations in the U.S., founded in 1897 to champion hand craftsmanship in an increasingly industrialized world. The exhibition is highly selective and juried by industry leaders, including Robert K. Liu of Ornament Magazine and Bella Neyman of NYCJW. The Forgotten Medal was constructed using 5k, 14k, and 18k gold with reclaimed tank wheel chains, and it was a homage to his Korean military service. Thematically focused on identity, trauma, and resilience, the piece was also featured in the Pratt x NYCJW showcase, reinforcing Kim’s ability to merge biological memory with luxury object-making.
At the SNAG x San Diego 51st conference, two of Kim’s most structurally ambitious works were presented: Chrono Link and Timekeeper’s Tote. The 2024 SNAG Conference was held in a region designated as the 2024 World Design Capital. It included keynote presentations, live technical demonstrations, international artist talks, portfolio reviews, student showcases, and city-wide exhibitions. The programming reflected the unique cultural intersection of San Diego’s U.S.–Mexico border location, highlighting themes of cross-cultural dialogue, identity, and shared craft heritage. The Chrono Link reimagines the watch link as a metaphor for continuity and personal transformation, blending silver and gold with hybrid fabrication techniques. The Timekeeper’s Tote, a fusion of leatherwork and metalsmithing, juxtaposed organic material with mechanical form to explore what it means to carry time. Being invited to the conference is considered a prestigious honor, reflecting a well-respected artist like Young Jun Kim’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and thought leadership in the field of jewelry and metalsmithing.
Technical Brilliance and Material Command
In each of his masterpieces, Young Jun Kim demonstrates an evolving and highly sophisticated skill set that bridges the rigor of traditional goldsmithing with the expressive freedom of contemporary innovation. His handling of platinum, showcased in the award-winning Medaille Boutonniere, reflects a mastery of one of the most challenging metals in the industry. The rigidity and high melting point of platinum require not only precision but restraint – qualities Kim further sharpened through his careful and detailed fabrication work with Krainz Creations for high luxury brand Harry Winston.
His narrative-driven pieces, such as Forgotten Medal and Dream Catcher Brooch, employ soldering, custom alloy blending, and micro-setting to create layered compositions that communicate emotional and symbolic themes with clarity and depth. In more structurally blended works like the Timekeeper’s Tote, he goes beyond traditional techniques by combining fine metals with leather and mechanical elements – an approach that demands a fluency in both materials science and visual storytelling.
Across his portfolio, Kim consistently applies storytelling techniques informed by Korean symbolism, diasporic identity, and post-military reflection, adding conceptual weight and cultural resonance to every piece. Through this continuous interplay of technical and conceptual elements, Kim continues to expand what jewelry can express, solidifying his status as one of the most skilled and thoughtful figures in the field today.
Future Exhibitions and Continuing Collaborations
Looking ahead, Kim is expanding his work with Krainz Creations, where he contributes to the production of heirloom-quality fine jewelry, including pieces for global iconic names in fine jewelry like Harry Winston. His role at Krainz Creations has given him the opportunity to refine complex skills in micro-stone setting, high-precision soldering, and fabrication of luxury pieces to strict tolerances, and he is actively exploring new digital modeling tools, including advanced Computer Aided Design (CAD) modeling and gemstone layout systems, to further enhance his precision and design efficiency. Being part of this prestigious luxury atelier also presents endless opportunities to expand his professional network, connecting him with other like-minded creative luxury designers, further enriching his creative process and growth.
Young Jun Kim’s upcoming endeavors will see him deepening his technical expertise in jewelry production while continuing to develop his original, concept-driven jewelry collections. Central to his future work is the Timeist Collection, which will serve as the foundation for his creative output in the coming years. He will be producing this collection in collaboration with contemporary artists in adjacent fields – including fashion, textile design, and architecture – to expand the way jewelry functions within broader cultural and spatial contexts.
As Kim progresses with this collection, he plans to push the boundaries of craftsmanship and material exploration while staying true to his signature design language, which is rooted in themes of time, emotion, and the human experience. He is committed to ensuring that each piece maintains a consistent visual identity, contributing to the recognizable aesthetic that defines his work. This attention to consistency and identity is central to Kim’s vision as he refines his approach to jewelry design. His work goes beyond creativity; it reflects his evolving philosophy that jewelry is not just an adornment but acts as a carrier of time, identity, and intimacy in a globalized world.
In pursuit of his goals, Kim will actively seek exhibition opportunities in New York and submit his creations to internationally renowned design competitions. He will be presenting the collection to both industry professionals and the public, showcasing the depth and emotional resonance of his pieces. The first full launch of the Timeist Collection will be accompanied by a curated pop-up show. This show will feature not only the latest pieces from the Timeist Collection but also selected earlier works, offering a glimpse into the progression of Kim’s artistic journey.
The active involvement in these projects not only allows him to inspire and mentor young artists but also keeps his practice responsive to the evolving concerns of the field, from ethical sourcing to digital fabrication. In every project ahead, Kim continues to expand the language of adornment, using his pieces to shape conversations around craftsmanship, history, and the deeply human desire to preserve meaning through form.
A Vision That Transcends Form
In each of these future endeavors – whether creating symbolic medals, sculptural brooches, or platinum heirlooms – Young Jun Kim continues to elevate jewelry into an artistic discipline of emotional weight and philosophical inquiry. His work does not seek to dazzle for spectacle’s sake; instead, it insists that beauty can be intelligent, that ornament can carry memory, and that metal, when shaped with intention, can tell stories across time. As he steps forward into future exhibitions and collaborations, Young Jun Kim is not simply forging objects – he is forging a legacy.
To explore Young Jun Kim’s journey in reshaping the jewelry industry, visit his official website youngjunkim.design, connect with him on LinkedIn, and follow his creative process on Instagram.
Published by Jeremy S.
