Style Edit: Cindy Chao celebrates her 20-year jewellery journey with her first retrospective exhibition at Taipei’s Fubon Art Museum that explores her evolution as a designer

Today, with two decades of experience to her name, the international jewellery artist has solidified her reputation for excellence and innovation. She celebrates this achievement this month by hosting her first-ever retrospective exhibition, Twenty Years in Art: A Retrospective Journey.

Held at the Fubon Art Museum in Taipei – an elegant space designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano – the exhibition offers a profound exploration of Chao’s artistic evolution.

The retrospective is divided into three thematic phases – “Emergence”, “Taking Wing” and “Artistic Mastery” – chronicling Chao’s journey from her monochromatic beginnings to the expressive vibrancy of her current creations.

Central to this narrative are iconic works like the 2007 Winter Branch Necklace and Bangle, which laid the foundation for her global reputation. These early pieces are marked by a stark, architectural beauty, echoing her solitary pursuit of artistic transformation.

As her work gained recognition, Chao’s artistry expanded both in technique and emotion. The 2016 Winter Leaves Necklace, a centrepiece of the exhibition, embodies this shift. Weighing just 78 grams yet set with over 6,000 diamonds totalling 240 carats, this award-winning work reflects a marriage of engineering ingenuity and organic inspiration. Its fluid, leaflike design – which was praised by Masterpiece London’s Philip Hewat-Jaboor – underscores Chao’s ability to capture the intangible: hope, renewal and the fleeting beauty of nature.