Today we’d like to introduce you to Oi Ying Valerie Ho.
Hi Oi Ying Valerie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in Hong Kong and first discovered jewelry while pursuing my BA in Visual Arts. At the time, I was exploring different artistic disciplines, but jewelry immediately stood out to me. I was fascinated by its unique ability to bring together craftsmanship, material exploration, and conceptual thinking within an intimate scale.
As I continued studying metalsmithing, I realized jewelry could be much more than a form of adornment. It could preserve memories, communicate ideas, and tell stories in ways that are both deeply personal and universally relatable. That realization inspired me to pursue jewelry as my primary medium and eventually led me to the United States, where I earned my MFA in Jewelry + Metalsmithing at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Since then, my practice has continued to evolve through research, experimentation, and collaboration. Most recently, I completed a one-year appointment as a Visiting Artist Assistant Professor in the Jewelry & Metalsmithing program at the University of Oregon. Today, I am based in Eugene, Oregon, creating contemporary jewelry that explores memory, history, and living experiences through jewelry and wearable objects.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but I don’t think I would want it any other way. Every challenge has shaped both my work and the way I approach my career.
One of the biggest challenges was moving from Hong Kong to the United States. It meant leaving behind my support system and rebuilding both my personal and professional life from the ground up. Starting over in a new environment taught me to be adaptable, open-minded, and willing to create opportunities rather than wait for them.
Another challenge has been staying committed to a research-driven practice. Many of my projects begin with oral history interviews, archival research, and long periods of experimentation before they become physical objects. It is a slower process than simply making work for the sake of producing new pieces, but I believe it leads to work with greater depth and meaning.
Like many artists, I have also learned to embrace uncertainty. There are always applications, proposals, and exhibitions that don’t go as planned, but I have come to see those experiences as part of the process rather than measures of success or failure. Every project, whether successful or not, has helped me grow as an artist.
Looking back, I realize that resilience is something you build over time. The challenges I have faced have strengthened my confidence in my practice and reaffirmed why I continue to make the work I do.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a contemporary jewelry artist whose practice brings together research, craftsmanship, and storytelling. Through jewelry, I explore how personal experiences and collective histories can be preserved in wearable objects, creating opportunities for reflection and dialogue.
A defining aspect of my practice is cloisonné enamel. I am particularly drawn to the medium because of its remarkable depth of color, permanence, and technical complexity. The process requires each layer to be fired individually, demanding patience, precision, and persistence. While deeply rooted in tradition, I am interested in using this historic technique to address contemporary ideas and experiences.
Research is central to the way I work. Many of my projects begin with oral history interviews, conversations, or archival research, allowing lived experiences to shape both the conceptual framework and the final form of each piece. Rather than simply illustrating a story, I aim to create jewelry that invites viewers to engage with the people and histories behind the work.
One project that exemplifies this approach is Achievement Unlocked, an ongoing research project inspired by oral history interviews with members of the Hong Kong diaspora. Drawing on the visual language of video game achievements, the series transforms everyday acts of resilience into cloisonné enamel badges. By recognizing milestones that often go unnoticed, the project highlights how contemporary jewelry can preserve lived experiences and contribute to collective memory.
What I am most proud of is creating work that resonates beyond the exhibition space. It is incredibly meaningful when someone sees a piece and recognizes part of their own story, or begins a conversation that might not have happened otherwise. I believe contemporary jewelry has the ability to connect people through shared experiences, and that possibility continues to inspire my practice.
What sets my work apart is the relationship between concept and craftsmanship. I do not see technical skill and research as separate pursuits. Instead, they continually inform one another, allowing each piece to be both carefully crafted and conceptually grounded.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I often joke that my life has been one long gamble. Looking back, many of the most important decisions I have made came with no guarantee of success, yet they ultimately shaped the artist I am today.
Leaving Hong Kong to pursue my MFA in the United States was a leap of faith. Choosing to build a career in contemporary jewelry was another. It is a field where there is no clear roadmap, and many opportunities require you to invest time and energy long before you know the outcome. Throughout my career, I have learned that some of the most meaningful opportunities begin with uncertainty.
That said, I do not see risk as acting impulsively. Before making a major decision, I spend time researching, planning, and considering different possibilities. Once I have done that, I am willing to embrace uncertainty if I believe the opportunity aligns with my goals and values. I would rather take a thoughtful risk than spend years wondering what might have happened if I had never tried.
Looking back, every major step in my career has involved leaving my comfort zone. Whether it was moving across the world, pursuing ambitious projects, or applying for opportunities that felt just beyond my reach, each experience has expanded my perspective and strengthened my confidence as an artist.
For me, taking risks is ultimately about believing in possibility. I have learned that growth rarely comes from certainty, and some of the most rewarding experiences in my life began with a decision that could easily have gone another way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oiyingvalerieho.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oiyingvalerieho/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oi-ying-valerie-ho/
