About me

Profile

Jewelry artist, researcher, and educator specializing in electroforming with precious metals. With a Ph.D. in biology and a background in scientific research, her work bridges science, nature, and contemporary jewelry.

She is a pioneer of artistic electroforming in the Czech Republic and has developed innovative techniques, including silver electroforming without a conductive base layer. Her work transforms fragile natural materials into unique metal objects, preserving their original structures with high precision.

Her practice explores themes of time, transformation, memory, and the relationship between natural processes and cultural identity.

Professional Experience

Founder & Jewelry Artist
Olga Vondráková Jewellery — 2025–present

• Development of contemporary jewelry combining natural materials, traditional goldsmith techniques, and innovative electroforming
• Author collections exploring identity, nature, and time

Founder & Artist / Educator
Nature in Drop — 2012–present

• Creation of electroformed jewelry using natural materials
• Development and teaching of electroforming techniques
• International workshops and courses (500+ students worldwide)

Researcher (Biology)
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic / University of South Bohemia — until 2012

Education

Ph.D. in Biology
Russian Academy of Sciences, 2006

Research position
University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic (2009–2012)

Goldsmith Training
Střední škola BEAN, Czech Republic, completed 2022

Accredited Lecturer (MŠMT, Czech Republic)
2020–2023

Publications

Author
Kouzla galvanoplastiky (The Magic of Electroforming)

• Professional publication based on long-term research and experimentation
• Used as an educational resource in the field

Awards & Recognition

• Winner, Women Changing the World Awards (Czech & Slovak) – Fashion Category, 2025
• Semifinalist, Žena roku (Woman of the Year) – Business Category, 2025
• Žena Českokrumlovska (Woman of Český Krumlov), 2024

Selected Exhibitions & Fashion Shows

• Jewelry presentations and exhibitions at cultural events and design markets across the Czech Republic (including České Budějovice, Brno, and Český Krumlov)
• Regular participation in traditional cultural festivals and curated artisan events (e.g. Five-petal rose festival, Mint Market, design markets)
• Fashion shows and collaborations with Czech fashion designers, presenting author jewelry collections in a contemporary fashion context
• Public presentations of work through exhibitions, pop-up events, and curated showcases focused on contemporary craft and design

My work has become a compromise between the desire to travel, explore, spend time with family and create beauty.
In order to give more, I am self-taught. I have taken courses in hard and soft soldering, jewelry techniques. A big step towards fulfilling my creative dreams was graduating from goldsmithing school and obtaining a license to work with precious metals. The new level brought a lot of responsibility and at the same time almost unlimited possibilities for creation! And that is why I have gained the trust of many customers for the production of personal jewelry that has its own story and identity. I appreciate it and I am enthusiastic about fulfilling your wishes!

Several personal and joint exhibitions have assured me that my work is admired and favored by a large number of people and I feel that I have my place in this world. And that is why I decided to write a book in which I would share my experience in the production of copper-plated jewelry with all enthusiasts of electroplating! I tried to avoid complex terms and make this technique as accessible as possible to all creators! The materials in this book accompany all my courses, but they can also be a compass for independent exploration of the world of electroplating.
She developed her own methods of applying precious metals to natural products. This electroplating with precious metals is my unique know-how, protected by a utility model. The jewelry created using this technology reaches a quality recognized by the Assay Office – their detail and accuracy are perfect.
What's next?
Create!

Mgr. Olga Vondráková Ph.D.