Mariia Khas on Armor-Like Jewelry, Buddhist Symbols, and Healing

Mongolian-born silversmith Mariia Khas creates jewelry that fuses traditional metalworking with Buddhist symbolism and personal narrative, often taking on an armor-like quality to evoke protection and inner strength. In an interview with the Rubin Museum, Khas describes her process as starting with a feeling rather than a sketch, using techniques like wax carving, forging, and chasing while leaving room for improvisation. She began sharing her pieces on Instagram as a personal diary, and after people started buying them, she sold her first works at symbolic prices to afford tools. Khas notes that her pieces often become personal relics for wearers, who report feeling protection or familiarity. She explains that her own search for protection stems from childhood, and each piece is a gesture of strength and care. A ring she made after her mother's dog died serves as a healing piece she wears daily. Khas discusses the concept of wrath as fire—not rage—and a natural impulse to defend boundaries. Raised within Buddhism and shamanism, she incorporates symbols like vajras, deities, lions, and fire to explore memory and roots. She also created a video for the Rubin, combining studio and nature footage, with music by the band Namgar. Khas teaches a small group of students, emphasizing the importance of being in the right mental space for the metal to respond.