Anna Hu is an international jewelry designer, born in Taiwan and educated in the U.S., who approaches her art with a distinctly East meets West philosophy and aesthetic that is heavily influenced by both cultures. She has studied at the Gemological Institute of America, F.I.T., Parsons School of Design (Masters, 19th century French Jewelry) and Columbia University (Masters, Arts Administration). After working for Christie’s, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Harry Winston, she founded her namesake brand, Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie, at the age of 30 and opened her first boutique one year later in New York’s famed Plaza Hotel.
Before establishing her self-titled Haute Joaillerie in 2007, Hu’s CV boasted an impressive range of work experiences, including roles at Van Cleef & Arpels, Christie’s and Harry Winston. Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie uses French artisanal craftmanship to create exceptional jewels, bursting with the finest coloured gemstones. Though Hu’s designs are often inspired by her Taiwanese heritage, fine art, impressionism and Art Nouveau; the main influence of her work derives from her musical background as a cellist prodigy.
When talking with Christie’s about the charity auction, Hu said that she frequently turns to classical music to get her creative juices flowing and that her process of designing jewellery is better described as ‘composing’. She elaborates that: “Each note is equivalent to a gemstone, the melody is the curve of the line, the harmony is the combination of colours, and the rhythm is the technology in the details.” This source of inspiration is overtly depicted in some of Hu’s creations, such as emeralds representing piano keys in the Ellington ring or the 2,368 diamonds in the Hearts of Winter cuff that pay tribute to Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Nutcracker.
Consequently, the jewels have become a celebrity favourite and can frequently be seen on red carpets, adorned by the likes of Madonna, Oprah, Emily Blunt and Natalie Portman.
Hu has also received praise from major institutions in the jewellery industry which saw her become the first-ever contemporary jewellery artist to have a solo exhibit at Christie’s London headquarters in 2017. She also broke the world auction record for a Chinese contemporary jewellery artist in 2013, after her Orpheus Jade Ring sold for a staggering $2.59 million at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale.