Anna Balasoglou
Anna was born and spent her early years in Wellington City. She later moved to East Porirua with her mother and older sister.
Initially, Anna’s aesthetic eye led her into the world of fashion, then she started creating jewellery. Those early years were a time of learning by trial and error. After several years living in Wellington, Sydney and Christchurch, Anna eventually moved to the Wairarapa and later enrolled in a two-year art course at the former Wairarapa Polytechnic in 1990. It was from this time that Anna’s jewellery became more thematic as she explored personal subjects and interests in and through her work.
Anna is a passionate artist and has often struggled for her art but at the same time, she gains enormous satisfaction her ability to express herself.
Since 2015 Anna has been living back in Wellington, again inspired by the hills, bush, harbour, wind and the vibrant city life.
Anna Balasoglou has been creating contemporary jewellery for over thirty years. She’s known for her bold and provocative works which she describes as “not for the faint-hearted”.
Anna was an early innovator in jewellery and her work has appeared in many magazine and newspaper fashion spreads, commercials and on catwalks. It has also appeared on TV shows Like Hercules and Zena, Warrior Princess. Over the years her work has been sought after and worn by many well-known New Zealanders.
Anna is driven by the pursuit of contemporary work, never tiring from the work of the creator, always trying to conjure up a unique piece that can say something about our times.
Anna is creatively inspired by people and human creations such as art, design, fashion and architecture. She is also inspired by the beauty of nature, landscapes, weather and seasons.
