Major
Projects

Following Emma’s Big Mac brooch series, these earrings are crafted from real, untreated chicken nuggets. With a tap of a smart device, they awaken NugBot—an AI chatbot blending ancient Stoic wisdom with the quirky self-awareness of being a nugget. More than jewellery, they challenge us to contemplate consumerism, commodification of wisdom, AI, and our connection to everyday objects. To meet NugBot and dive deeper, read on...

Emma Bugg’s Big Mac jewellery is an ongoing project, crafted with a fresh burger every five years to examine the phenomenon of non-decomposition in fast food. The next iteration is set for 2025, continuing from the initial piece created in 2015. Read on...

De-extinction is no longer just a fantasy relegated to the realms of science fiction. As technology propels us toward the brink of reanimating extinct species, the questions of responsibility and remembrance arise. In a world where conservation and preservation are paramount, Tasmanian artist Emma Bugg sought to honour the memory of the enigmatic thylacine through her creative project.
Read on...

In 1895, the General Manager of the Mt Lyell Mining and Railway Company, Robert Carl Sticht, gifted his wife, Marion, a charm necklace. Over time, the 27 unique charms added to the necklace told the couple’s story, following their journey to lutruwita/Tasmania from the United States.
 

One hundred and twenty-eight years on, jeweller Emma Bugg created a contemporary necklace as homage to both the original piece and the histories of Queenstown. Read on...

Unbeknown to each other,  David and Kirsha approached Emma to design and craft a personal piece of jewellery for their respective tenth wedding anniversary. Kirsha's piece features an unusual mineral formation unearthed in an excavator scoop in the build on a new wing at MONA. 
 

The ‘Third Nipple’ necklace was commissioned by MONA founder David Walsh to mark his 10th wedding anniversary with Kirsha Kaechele on March 22, 2024. Designed to honour Kirsha’s nurturing spirit and creative vision, this exceptional piece merges rare natural elements with exquisite craftsmanship.

The center piece of the necklace is a unique mineral specimen, naturally shaped like a nipple, unearthed during the excavation of MONA’s underground wing. Measuring 8 cm in diameter, it is unusually heavy, cold to the touch like metal, and sparkles subtly with mica flecks on its surface. This enigmatic stone is set in 18k gold, offering both a sense of mystery and grandeur.

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Complimenting the design are a Tasmanian Killiecrankie diamond, set in gold and a sterling silver milk drop, representing both fluidity and nurturing. The necklace is completed with a meticulously hand-forged chain in 18 carat yellow gold and blackened silver, featuring alternating drip and chain links—a thoughtful balance of elegance and symbolism.
 

Sophisticated yet deeply personal, the ‘Third Nipple’ Necklace transcends jewellery, embodying love, creativity, and the profound connection shared between its wearer and commissioner

Emma was commissioned to design and create a bespoke brooch for David Walsh, founder of MONA, combining personal significance with exquisite craftsmanship. The brooch incorporates a raw diamond and moissanite alongside a pink stone sourced directly from MONA’s grounds. It also features a fragment of the same rare mineral used in Kirsha Kaechele’s necklace, symbolising a connection between the couple, and additional stones collected by Kirsha during her travels. Crafted in 18k yellow gold and sterling silver, the piece has a deeply personal narrative, intertwining place, memories, and a love shared.