Working under the name Eni Jewellery, Eleni Koumara creates pieces that exist in a delicate balance between strength and refinement. Her work is deeply informed by the natural world, where organic forms and tactile surfaces become a starting point for exploration. Each creation emerges through an intuitive process – shaped by experience, material and movement – resulting in jewellery that feels both intentional and quietly unexpected.
Koumara’s journey began in Greece before she honed her practice at Central Saint Martins, developing a sculptural sensitivity that continues to define her work today. Recognised internationally, she has received the Award for Excellence in Jewellery from the National Association of Jewellers and exhibited across Europe and Asia, including major presentations in Beijing and Shanghai.
Sustainability sits at the core of her philosophy. Since 2016, Koumara has worked with recycled materials and is certified to use Fairtrade gold, embedding an ethical consciousness into each piece she produces. Her collections have been showcased by platforms such as Farfetch and Wolf & Badger, and recognised by titles including Vogue UK.
In this interview, we speak with Koumara about the evolution of Eni Jewellery, her material-led process, and the subtle interplay between control and chance that defines her practice.
Are you self-taught, or did you undertake formal artstc training?
I could consider my self self-taught, although I learned the basics in silversmithing by a great crafsman Manolis Manimanakis, I then contnue practsing and developing my skills further. I took a short course on Jewellery Design in Sain Martns for three months, which helped my built my drawing skills.
How would you defne your visual language or conceptual approach?
Metals, and especially silver is a medium that I love, and I am very glad that I haven’t get and formal educaton. I enjoy making not only jewellery, but also objects, and those are the ones that I enjoy more creatng.
Can you describe your creatve process from concepton to completon?
My practse has always been afected by the surround. I have made collectons inspired by the urban architecture, music eras, mythology, the sea, the environment, the history. I don’t always start with the concept, for the majority of the collectons I create, but even when I don’t, once I complete the new work, I always can magically fnd the connecton and the reason that guide me to create it.
Does narratve, symbolism, or storytelling play a role within your work?
Absolutely.
Which artsts have most infuenced you historically or contemporarily and why?
A lot, but they are not well known. My mentor, Manolis Manimanakis has the biggest and more important infuence on me.
What personal, cultural, or environmental infuences shape your practce?
Music, my routes, my history, the global situaton politcally and socially.
Where is your studio based, and how does the space inform your creatvity?
Afer coming back to Greece from the UK, it’s been more than eight years now, my studio is based in my hometown Thessaloniki.
Do you have any rituals or rhythms that anchor your studio practce?
No.
What bodies of work or projects are you currently developing?
I just launched my latest collecton Meridians, and at the moment I am working on something new. Re creatng objects that come from the past. But more to come soon.
Where can collectors encounter or acquire your work?
Online on elenikoumara.com, at POST Greenlanes in London, Made Gallery in Uppingham and at selected stores in Athens and Thessaloniki. And of course at my own studio and atelier in Thessaloniki.
