Dr Bic Tieu

Bic Tieu is a designer, object maker and jeweller.
She is also a lecturer teaching in the School of Art + Design at the University of NSW.
She is interested in ways objects are holders to stories, cultures, and knowledge.

Bic’s works draws on traditional and contemporary craft and design methods inspired by her Asian-cultural lineages to investigate themes of personal and cross-cultural narratives. Specialising in traditional and contemporary metal and lacquer technologies, her practice often utilises a synthesis of these materials to create new perspectives on contemporary object making and meanings. Her recent works navigates cartographic ways to explore the ‘in-between’ to create new kinds of cultural objects that are representative of the hybrid cultures, diasporic life experiences and identity represented in the diverse cultures in Australia. Bic’s practice revel in materiality expressed in object-based forms to create better understanding of cultural diversity within the Asia-Australia context.

Bic began her design and jewellery education at the University of NSW Art and Design in the late 1990s, where she completed both a Bachelor Design and a Master of Design (Honours) degrees. Her practice further developed through two years professional training at the world-famous Kitamura Koubou in Japan, studying Japanese lacquer, a traditional form of Japanese painting using sprinkled gold powder. Bic has also completed her practice-based PhD at the Australian National University with the Jewellery and Object workshop.

Bic’s works have been selected for international competitions, national touring and solo exhibitions. Her jewellery and lacquer objects are held in private and public collections both in Australia and Japan. Bic continues to work on exhibition projects and gives talks and workshops at various local and international design conferences. She has conducted studio Masterclasses and workshops, completed various local and international residency programs and recipient of awards and grants; including the National Association of Visual Arts, Asialink, The Ian Potter Cultural Trust, The Australia Council for the Arts, The Australian Design Centre and The University of NSW-COFA (former name).

Alongside exploring the realm of the jewellery and object scene, Bic maintains a parallel practice as a freelance designer. Bic has over five year’s experience in jewellery designing and manufacturing industry working as a designer in the Asian regions. Working at the production scale, utilising computer-aided design and large-scale production methods to facilitate the commercial jewellery world. Known for her attention to detail, Bic renders meticulous designs in 1:1 scale using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to articulate designs ready for production. In 2013, Bic started the Bic Tieu Studio. Consisting of small run, studio production base of contemporary jewellery design, honing in to reflect her specialty skills.

In 2017 Bic was appointed an academic role teaching at UNSW Art & Design where the culmination of her practice and skills are passed onto students. She has spent some time on the Jewellers and Metalsmith Group of Australia (JMGA) committee as Newsletter Editor between years 2017 – 2020. Bic is passionate about designing, teaching, making and materiality. She is interested how jewellery and object installation can act as a vehicle for expressing ideas and bringing communities together.

Currently, Bic is lecturer in the School of Art and Design. She is also the International Student Experience Engagement and Recruitment Champion. She convenes and teaches across the Object courses, a disciplinary major. She also teaches into the Design Studio Capstone courses and mentors students in the Design Honours program.

More information about Bic can be found:
www.bictieu.com