Artist Profile: Justin Ferguson

Silversmith Jeweller
“Making jewellery is a very special thing. I have made pieces for people who have never taken them off; they have almost become parts of their body, which is amazing to know. It’s pretty much wearable art.” Art always interested Justin Ferguson, but he spent a number of years working in the building industry before he started to explore career options in that area. Over time, he attended work-based training courses in pottery, silversmithing, oil painting, screen printing and bone carving, as well as an introductory visual arts course. “When I learned that I was going to be a father it got me seriously thinking about making a living out of art. I wanted to be self-employed and knew that I could do that with carving.” Justin is the son of second generation New Zealand father and Canadian mother. He was raised in Patamahoe and then later Auckland. Justin is currently living and working in Island Bay on Wellington’s south coast with his wife, who is of native New Zealand Maori decent (Te Rarawa and Te Aupouri Iwi). Justin spent ten years in Golden bay and Nelson learning many different arts and crafts finally focusing on jewellery. Firstly, in carving and inlay taught by Chris Bone, then moving into silver, night classes in the basics but mainly self taught though experimentation, trial and error. Still tending towards the earthiness of his inlay work, Justin uses pure raw roughly beaten silver creating a refraction of light combined with southern paua and linen cord.