I am a jewellery artist and goldsmith living in Valkeakoski. In my previous profession as a nurse specializing in substance abuse and health promotion, I became familiar with the depths and shadows of the human mind. This experience has profoundly influenced both my artistic expression and worldview. Alongside this deep exploration of humanity, I have always felt a strong pull toward creative and artistic expression, so changing careers was only a matter of time. I now feel completely in my element.

My artistic journey truly began with basic studies in visual arts at the Sara Hildén Academy in 2018. Inspired by those studies, I pursued a new path and graduated as a goldsmith in 2024. Currently, I am deepening my skills through engraving and gemstone cutting studies.

My studio, Atelier Hanki, takes its name from my own name Hanna Kivelä, but it also refers to the wintery nature and atmosphere (Hanki in Finnish translates as snowfield or snowdrift) — one of my sources of inspiration. Under Atelier Hanki, I design and create my own collections. It is my creative playground, where craftsmanship, art, and personal expression come together.

Today, my creative work focuses primarily on jewellery art, increasingly on an international scale. I am interested in using organic materials alongside traditional precious metals and gemstones. Carefully selected treasures found in nature have inspired and served as the starting point for pieces that are both wearable art and small sculptures. What fascinates me in jewellery art is the fusion of visual art with design and craftsmanship, and the intimate connection between the jewellery piece and the person wearing it—the human body as both bearer and frame.

As an artist, I am sensitive, curious, and inclined toward melancholy. I view the world strongly through an aesthetic lens and am deeply attuned to seeing beauty everywhere—even in places where it may seem difficult to find. My inner life is rich and abundant, and I hope that at least a part of the diverse beauty I experience can be conveyed outward through my artistic creations.

In my art, I often explore symbolism, the mysticism of northern nature, and the psychological dimensions of human life. While my works may carry a sense of melancholy and darkness, they always hold space for beauty and hope. Art, for me, is a way to take a stand, to highlight injustices, and to reflect on the many facets of humanity.

I believe that at its best, both jewellery and visual art can touch something fundamental within a person. They can awaken something deeply meaningful on a personal level, while also offering a powerful experience that reaches beyond the ordinary. Handmade jewellery is far more than just accessories or decoration. Jewellery is worn directly on the skin, and it can become deeply intimate. At its best, it offers strength, joy, and comfort. It can carry powerful emotions and memories and serve as a way to express and affirm one’s emotional state and identity.

I create my jewellery in my home studio in Valkeakoski, surrounded by lakes and forests. I often begin the process by melting the raw material, after which the piece takes shape through sawing, forging, soldering, engraving, and many other stages that require specialized skill. I want to create individual, one-of-a-kind pieces, which is why I choose not to cast the parts of my collections—even though it would speed up production. This decision reflects my commitment to authenticity, artistry, and the value of handcrafted detail. My jewellery is unique and meaningful, carrying with it stories, memories, and emotion. My creative process is slow, immersive, and emotional—to me, the journey is just as important as the final result.

In my jewellery art, I often return to organic and geometric forms, a limited color palette, and contrasts: strength and fragility, permanence and transience, light and shadow. Recently, I’ve been exploring the use of organic materials alongside precious metals and gemstones. Treasures found in nature and carefully selected have served both as inspiration and as tangible elements in my works, which are both wearable art and small sculptures. One material especially meaningful to me is the seed pod of the horse chestnut. It symbolizes humanity—the strength to survive, and the need to protect vulnerability and inner value. This theme recurs in my latest works, where forms and materials become metaphors for transformation, strength, and sensitivity.