By Abbie Wilson
October 28, 2026

The New York-based designer receives two Silver A’ Design Awards, bringing a distinctive artistic language of personal memories, organic growth and sculptural structures to contemporary fine jewellery.



COMO, ITALY. Two sculptural jewellery creations by New York-based designer Aris Xiong were presented as part of the 2026 A’ Design Award exhibition programme in Como, Italy. Both Heart in Bloom and Lily of the Valley received Silver A’ Design Awards in the Jewelry Design category, marking a notable achievement for the designer with two individually recognised works in the same year.

Among the diverse award-winning jewellery designs presented at the exhibition, Xiong's creations stand out for their distinctive approach to transforming personal memories and emotional connections into sculptural forms. Rather than drawing inspiration solely from the visual beauty of nature, her work explores how memories, human experiences and the symbolism of organic growth can be translated into a coherent and recognisable artistic language.

What distinguishes Xiong's practice is the consistency of this creative vision across individual works. Through open architectural structures, organically extending lines and expressive relationships between natural gemstones, she has developed a personal design vocabulary in which emotional narratives and sculptural aesthetics are closely intertwined. Each creation carries its own inspiration while remaining unmistakably connected to her broader artistic identity.

Presented during the international design celebrations in July 2026, the two works reflect an approach to fine jewellery that extends beyond traditional ornamentation. Drawing inspiration from the rhythms of nature and the emotional significance of personal experiences, Xiong transforms organic growth into sculptural compositions in which gemstones, precious metals and open spaces exist in a carefully considered relationship.
Open Structures: Reimagining Nature Through Jewellery Architecture
Nature has long provided inspiration for jewellery, often appearing through decorative interpretations of flowers, leaves and botanical motifs. In Xiong's work, however, nature becomes more than a visual reference. Its underlying principles of growth, movement and irregularity inform the structure of the jewellery itself.

Central to this approach is the use of open, asymmetrical compositions. Rather than arranging gemstones around a fixed centre or enclosing natural motifs within conventional settings, Xiong explores how sculptural branches, precious stones and negative space can form a continuous yet open architectural system.

In Heart in Bloom, a 1.1-carat heart-shaped peach-toned sapphire emerges from an arrangement of branching forms in 18-karat gold. The gemstone is integrated into the overall structure, allowing the surrounding elements to extend organically in different directions. As the viewing angle changes, new relationships between the stone, metal and surrounding space become visible.

Lily of the Valley, crafted in 18-karat gold with chrysoberyl and pink sapphires, takes inspiration from the relationship between lily of the valley and wild strawberry. The contrasting growth patterns of the two plants are translated into layered branches and a controlled asymmetrical composition, where botanical elements appear to grow naturally within an open structure.

While both creations draw from botanical forms, their artistic significance extends beyond representations of nature. For Xiong, the processes of growth, connection and transformation also offer a visual language through which personal emotions and memories can take shape. Botanical elements become part of a larger sculptural narrative, allowing each work to express an idea rather than simply reproduce a natural motif.

The challenge of these designs lies in balancing artistic freedom with the precision required for fine jewellery. Every extending branch, gemstone setting and connection must contribute to the structural stability of the piece while maintaining an appearance of lightness.

Through this approach, Xiong develops a distinctive interpretation of botanical jewellery, treating natural growth as an architectural principle and a means of artistic storytelling rather than simply a decorative motif.
A Sense of Vitality: The Language of Line and Colour
Beyond structural experimentation, Xiong's work is distinguished by its sense of vitality, expressed through fluid lines, unexpected colour relationships and sculptural movement.

Having studied oil painting since childhood, the designer developed an early sensitivity to how colour is perceived in relation to surrounding tones, light and composition. This understanding continues to influence her approach to natural gemstones.

Rather than considering the beauty of a gemstone in isolation, Xiong examines how its colour interacts with neighbouring stones, precious metals and the surrounding negative space. Colour becomes an integral part of the composition, establishing visual rhythm, contrast and balance.

In Heart in Bloom, the warmth of the peach-toned sapphire creates a delicate relationship with the extending gold structures. In Lily of the Valley, contrasting green and pink gemstones introduce a livelier visual rhythm, echoing the variation found in the natural world.

Line is equally important to her artistic expression. Inspired by the unpredictable direction of organic growth, Xiong uses extending branches, interrupted forms and carefully controlled asymmetry to introduce movement into otherwise static objects.

These elements create a sense of jewellery in the process of becoming, as though the forms might continue to grow beyond their existing boundaries. The open compositions allow light and space to participate in the design, giving the pieces an expressive quality without compromising their refinement or wearability.

This balance of emotional expression and structural precision has become a defining characteristic of Xiong's work. Rather than relying on literal representations of personal stories, she draws upon selected memories and emotions as starting points for artistic exploration. Through a consistent vocabulary of organic lines, expressive colour and open compositions, these intangible inspirations are transformed into tangible sculptural creations.

Founded in New York in 2023, Aris Fine Studio reflects Xiong's continuing exploration of the relationship between natural gemstones, sculptural forms and personal memories. With memory and emotional connection at the heart of its design philosophy, the studio approaches fine jewellery as a medium through which personal experiences can find lasting artistic expression.

The presentation of Heart in Bloom and Lily of the Valley in Italy marks another chapter in this practice, bringing her distinctive approach to contemporary fine jewellery into an international design exhibition setting.

Together, the two Silver A’ Design Award-winning works demonstrate a coherent artistic vision in which nature is not simply represented through its outward appearance, but reinterpreted through its underlying sense of growth, movement and life. Through this sculptural language, Xiong gives personal memories and emotional experiences a lasting physical form.