Shinta Nakajima

Shinta Nakajima is an award-winning silversmith based in Sheffield. His work is defined by masterful hammering and chasing techniques, through which he explores the meditative nature of repetition. Each piece is shaped through an intensive process – hammering up to three times per second, 15,000 times per hour, and dedicating approximately 100 hours to a single work.This rhythmic interaction with the metal generates a dialogue between maker and material, where every minute hammer mark contributes to an evolving, flowing energy.

Nakajima’s practice seeks to reconcile the stability of metal with the fleeting beauty of nature. His focus on seeds and fruits – symbols of life – reflects his deep engagement with organic forms and their inherent transience.

He earned his BA in Metal Craft from Musashino Art University in Tokyo before spending five years as a technician under renowned Japanese-British silversmith Professor Hiroshi Suzuki. In 2023, he completed an MFA in Jewellery and Metalwork at Sheffield Hallam University.

A former Sarabande Foundation artist (2018), Nakajima presented his first solo exhibition, Renewed Ornamentation, at Gallery FUMI in 2023. In 2025, he was awarded the prestigious Artist of the Fair prize at Collect, the leading international fair for contemporary craft and design. His work is held in international private and public collections, including Sheffield Museums Trust, the Sheffield Assay Office, and Sheffield Museum.