Dalston-based painter Shem brings his expressionist language into jewellery, partnering with Basque sibling duo Nkoda Joyas on a jewellery capsule collection launching 12 October 2025.
Shem, a British painter of Cuban, Jamaican and Pakistani heritage, has long tested the boundaries of where art can live — on canvas, paper, walls, discarded chairs and, most recently, precious metals. His latest project, a jewellery capsule collection with Nkoda Joyas, marks a significant new chapter.
The collection, created with the Basque brother-and-sister design duo, will be released on 12 October and available to purchase at nkoda joyas. Known for their sculptural approach to metalwork, Nkoda Joyas invited Shem to translate his instinctive practice into wearable form. The resulting pieces carry echoes of his bold colour sensibility, dreamlike symbolism and improvisatory approach.
© Shem and Nkoda Joyas
For Shem, the collaboration is a continuation of his restless exploration of materials and surfaces. Over the years, he has worked with whatever was at hand, seeing each medium — whether canvas, found object or wall — as an opportunity to extend his evolving vocabulary.
This moment follows a particularly active year. Earlier this summer, Shem’s stage artwork featured during Bad Bunny’s performance of Perfumito Nuevo on the season finale of “Saturday Night Live.” In the coming weeks, he will also unveil a new collection of canvases and digital works.
© Shem and Nkoda Joyas
About Shem
Born in 1984, Shem is a self-taught contemporary abstract expressionist painter based in Dalston, London. His work is marked by an instinctive, organic approach, often reflecting his emotions and state of mind at the moment of creation. He describes his art as an eclectic mix of thoughts and feelings, which may evolve over time as he adds or removes elements.
Central to his method is the role of mistakes, which he embraces as catalysts for learning and artistic growth. His practice is deeply connected to hip hop culture, which informs both his lifestyle and his work. Shem refers to this ethos as Art, Hop, Life (AHL).
Often working with found materials and inexpensive supplies, he has developed a style that is both resourceful and distinctive. He regards himself as a kind of journalist, using art to confront overlooked or unspoken personal and social issues, sparking conversation in the process.
His pieces — spanning paintings, works on paper and found objects — are noted for their bold colours, dynamic compositions and distinctive visual language. Shem continually seeks to evolve, learning from others and embracing new techniques.
Beyond painting, he has been active in the Australian hip hop scene and is recognised for his innovative experiments with letterforms. International in scope, he has exhibited in the UK, South Korea, Japan and Australia, while maintaining a strong presence in the London art scene.
© Shem and Nkoda Joyas
About Nkoda Joyas
Nkoda Joyas is led by siblings Eneko and Itxaso, who began creating together in childhood and continue that spirit of play in their jewellery design. “We are Eneko and Itxaso, brothers who continue to play like when we were little and now we create jewellery,” they explain. “We design pieces so that through them you express who you are. Craftsmanship is an intimate connection between the material, the creator and you.”
The duo’s work blends a modern design sensibility with deep respect for traditional craftsmanship, resulting in pieces that are both sculptural and personal. Their collaboration with Shem reflects this philosophy, treating jewellery not simply as ornament, but as a vessel for identity and expression.
Nkoda Joyas x Shem jewellery capsule collection will be available to purchase on 12 October 2025.
©2025 Shem, Nkoda Joyas
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