Man Hei Michael, Lin
BA(Hons) FGA
Michael Lin is an award-winning jewellery designer and artist-maker, originally from Hong Kong and currently based in the UK. Trained at the renowned School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University, his practice blends traditional craftsmanship with modern digital techniques. Influenced by both Eastern and Western cultures, and deeply inspired by Japanese aesthetics, Michael creates work that explores how cultural narratives and material sensibilities intersect through contemporary jewellery.
His latest collection reimagines Japanese aesthetics through the use of both natural and innovative or recycled materials, such as shell Jesmonite composite. By combining traditional handcrafted techniques with digital manufacturing, including the Mitsuro Hikime wax technique, Michael creates quietly expressive pieces that explore contrasts between precision and imperfection, permanence and transience. Drawing from Japanese aesthetic concepts, his work invites an appreciation for beauty found in ageing, transformation, and tactile experience. By juxtaposing geometric precision with organic irregularity, the collection encourages audiences to discover the beauty of subtlety, imperfection, and the passage of time through jewellery as an intimate, evolving form of storytelling.
Roles and Positions
2026 - Present – Association for Contemporary Jewellery Director
2025 - Birmingham City University School of Jewellery Visiting Lecturer
2024 - 2025 – Association for Contemporary Jewellery Early Career Representative
2024 - Present – Stratford School of Jewellery & Stirchley School of Jewellery Specialist tutor
2023 - 2025 – Birmingham City University School of Jewellery Artist in Residence
Interviews, Events, and Exhibitions
2025- Exhibitor of Lustre 2025 – Lakeside Art
2025- Exhibitor of Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair - Manchester
2025- Exhibitor of Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair - Newcastle
2025- Exhibitor of “DUALITY” earring exhibition - Gill Wing Jewellery in collaboration with Association for Contemporary Jewellery (ACJ) and Gold Lark Jewellery Gallery
2025- Exhibitor of "Graphic Pulse" and "The Alchemy of Sprint" - Sara Preisler Gallery
2024- Panel Speaker of "Making Headway: Progressing on your Jewellery Journey - The Jewellery Collective"
2024- Exhibitor of “Great Northern Craft Fair”
2024- Exhibitor of “Forging Futures 2024”
2024- Exhibitor of “New Designers 2024”
2024- Exhibitor of “Slovenian Jewellery Week 2024”
2023- Exhibitor of “Great Northern Craft Fair”
2023- Exhibitor of “New Designers 2023”
2023- Exhibitor of “Inspired Festival 2023”
2023- Guest of podcast “Jewellery Study Discussion – How different are education cultures in The UK vs other Countries?” by ALIEN NATION BCU, available on Spotify
2022- Guest Exhibitor of “ACJ/BCU Creative Careers Symposium - What is Jewellery?”
2022- Co-curator of “BCU School of Jewellery Medals Collection” cross-campus exhibition
Awards and Recognitions
2024- William Dudley Artist in Residence Bursary Award - William Dudley Trust
2023- Mark Fenn Award - Association for Contemporary Jewellery
2023- Talent Spot 2023 - Association for Contemporary Jewellery
2023- Sara Preisler Award
2023- Lakeside Art Award
2023- Association for Contemporary Jewellery College Award – Highly Commended