Peter Chang
Bracelet

Bracelet

© Peter Chang

Bracelet
Bracelet
ArtistBritish, 1944–2017
CultureBritish
Titles
  • Bracelet
Date1992
MediumAcrylic, PVC, found objects, and polystyrene foam
DimensionsOverall: 8 1/2 × 8 1/2 × 2 in. (21.6 × 21.6 × 5.1 cm)
Credit LineHelen Williams Drutt Collection, museum purchase funded by the Morgan Foundation
Object number2002.3685
Non exposé

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Description

Peter Chang’s enigmatic jewelry both attracts and repels with its vibrant, clashing colors, psychedelic patterns, and largeness of scale. Chang achieves unbelievable gradations of color in his works, as seen in this fiery orange and red bracelet that also demonstrates his use of found objects. Their oddball shapes and colors add to the humor and wit that he imbues in all of his jewelry.


Chang, who trained as a graphic designer and a sculptor, also worked in furniture before turning to jewelry. His preferred medium is plastic. Although society may consider plastic disposable, it is quintessentially a material of today, closely linked with progressive culture and recent social history. “It is the magical potential of materials that I find most fascinating," Chang says. "Plastics in their own right have little intrinsic value. It is the joy of exploring their qualities of malleability, creating colour and sensuality, teasing the materials to obey, exploiting all to the maximum, which gives it value to me.”


ProvenanceThe artist; acquired by Helen Williams Drutt English; purchased by MFAH, 2002.
Exhibition History"Gold," Helen Drutt Gallery, Philadelphia, December 7, 1991–January 25, 1992.

"Peter Chang: A Visionary, Museum of Art and Design," Helsinki, Finland, 2000; American Craft Museum, New York, 2000.

"Peter Chang – It's Only Plastics," Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim, Germany, June 15–September 8, 2002; Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin, October 11, 2002–January 6, 2003; Bayerischer Kunstgewerbeverein Munich, January 16–March 1, 2003; Goldschmiedhaus Hanau, Germany, April–June, 2003.

"Beyond Ornament: Contemporary Jewelry from the Helen Williams Drutt Collection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, March 6–June 27, 2004.

"Ornament as Art: Avant-Garde Jewelry from the Helen Williams Drutt Collection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, September 30, 2007–January 27, 2008; Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, March 14–July 6, 2008; Mint Museum of Craft and Design, Charlotte, August 16, 2008–January 4, 2009; Tacoma Art Museum, Washington, June 27–September 13, 2009.

"The Marzio Years: Transforming the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1982–2010," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, October 25, 2020–January 10, 2021.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Bracelet
Peter Chang
1992
Resin, acrylic, PVC, and polystyrene foam
2002.3686
Bracelet
Peter Chang
1991
Acrylic, gold leaf, resin, PVC, and polystyrene foam
2002.3684
Bracelet
Peter Chang
1986
Acrylic and PVC
2002.3681
Bracelet
Peter Chang
1991
Acrylic, resin, and PVC
2002.3687
Brooch
Peter Chang
1991
Acrylic, polyester, and PVC
2002.3682
"Bull" Bracelet
Petra Hartman
1992
Papier-mâché and found objects
2002.3806
Pendant
Debra Rapoport
1979
Found metal objects, 3-M tape, acrylic paint, colored pencil, graphite, and brass bead chain
2002.4039
"Canberra" Brooch
Pierre Cavalan
1990
Silver, imitation stones, enamel, and found objects
2002.3669
Earrings
Peter Chang
1991
Acrylic and PVC
2002.3683.A,.B
"Ella" y "El"
Celia Alvárez Muñoz
1990
Maple cabinet, silver dye bleach photographs, letterpress type, fabric, ribbon, buttons, dijos, and found objects
98.720
"Sustain" Brooch #1613
Robin Kranitzky
1992
Brass, polymer clay, silver, acrylic, micarta, sand, postcard fragments, found objects, Mylar, and balsa
2002.3879
Front, overall.
Boris Orlov
1989
Acrylic on wood and canvas, with found objects
2023.820