Bertrand MakFounder and Chief Creator of SAUVEREIGN

Bertrand Mak is the founder and chief creator of art and luxury maison SAUVEREIGN. His interdisciplinary practice amalgamates mixed media, sculpture, and wearable art and is characterised by the use of 24-carat gold leaf, applied via reimagined leafing and lacquering techniques invented by Mak in 2012.

Born into a medical family with an interest in arts, Bertrand Mak has been acquainted with art and culture from an early age, starting with music. Experiences from his formative years provoked the search for his raison d’etre and developed into an exploration of preciousness and permanence. Central to his philosophy are the intertwining notions of purpose, identity, intimacy, and meaning.

Fundamental to Mak’s practice is a fastidious attention to detail, driven by his affinity for haute horlogerie. Constantly inspecting the world with a loupe, his pursuit of thorough perfection is reflected in the exquisite craftsmanship as well as the excruciating care and deliberation that goes into each of his creations.

Examining the timeless role of gold in civilisation and the arts, be it visual, architectural, or culinary, Mak utilises the noble metal as the foundation to his creative practice. Perpetually extending his use of gold in application and technique, Mak attempts to prove and exhaust the immortality of this seemingly everlasting medium.

Mak was educated at Harrow School and the University of Cambridge. His designs have been worn by notable people including Lady Amelia and Eliza Spencer, Zara Tindall, Olivia Colman CBE, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Cillian Murphy.