A Quick Guide to Art Jewelry
While precious and costume jewelry rely on classical notions of beauty and the allure of faceted stones, art jewelry is rooted in experimenting with ideas that can be worn on the body, often made with everyday materials.
This page covers the following topics
(click on the red text to jump down to that section):
How Can You Tell It's Art Jewelry? Some Examples
Where to See Art Jewelry
Collecting Art Jewelry
Publications about Art Jewelry
Travel with AJF
Caption for index image: (Left to right) work by Roberta and David Williamson, Lisa & Scott Cylinder, Wendy McAllister, and Brooke Marks-Swanson, photo: Rebekah Frank
How Can You Tell It's Art Jewelry? Some Examples
Portrait of David Bielander Wearing His Pick Your Nose Necklaces, 2019
What makes it art jewelry: HUMOR. Referencing the tale about telling lies versus telling the truth, the Pinocchio series offers a witty commentary on our era.
Click on the photo to see it larger.
Karl Fritsch, Untitled, 2021
What makes it art jewelry: SUBVERSION. Although Fritsch makes rings from precious metal and stones, he uses these materials in revolutionary ways that upend traditional jewelry formats.
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Helen Britton, Flowers and Stars and Hearts and Tears and Diamonds and Everything Else, 2021
What makes it art jewelry: SUSTAINABILITY. Preservation of the environment, along with a fondness for costume jewelry, are displayed in this necklace made from repurposed elements.
Click on the photo to find out more and see it larger.
Where to See Art Jewelry
AJF Member Galleries that Sell Art Jewelry
Their knowledgeable owners showcase the top artists and best work.
Click on the photo to see the full list.
Current Exhibitions
A calendar of shows from around the world.
Click on the photo to find out what's on show right now and coming soon.
Museums with Online Jewelry Collections
See jewelry from around the globe without leaving your seat.
Click on the photo to go museum hopping.
Collecting Art Jewelry
The Art of Collecting
Helpful suggestions as you build your collection.
Click on the photo to read the article.
Contemporary Art Jewelry and How to Wear It: An Exhibition in Berlin Shows the Possibilities
Jewelry makers Svenja John and Petra Zimmermann originally developed Jewellery & Garment as a fashion-week side event. They paired jewelry by 10 makers with wearable garments from 10 avant-garde fashion houses.
Click on the photo to learn more.
Video: AJF Live with Jorunn Veiteberg
The Norwegian collector takes us through her home, showing just some of the pieces in her vast collection of art jewelry. In an easy-to-understand way, she talks about how she made her choices and examines her motivation to collect.
Click on the photo to watch the video.
Publications about Art Jewelry
Contemporary Jewelry in Perspective
This 2013 book includes essays and histories from all the top international writers in the field.
Click on the photo to get the full PDF from AJF's Digital Library.
A Review of Cold Sweat Suor Frio
This book is the printed legacy of the 1st Lisbon Contemporary Jewelry Biennial, a public event in Autumn 2021 that included exhibitions, colloquia, and masterclasses.
Click on the photo to read the review.
Seven More Books about Art Jewelry
This is just a small selection of the book reviews we’ve published.
Click on the photo to link to the article.
Travel with AJF
Upcoming: Berkshires (July 2023)
+ Visits to Sienna Patti and to Ornamentum, with maker Ted Noten present
+ Visits to the homes of collector Susan Grant Lewin and gallerist Mark McDonald
+ Brunch and a pop-up exhibition at the home of Carol Green
+ Dinner and a concert at Tanglewood
+ A performance at Jacob’s Pillow
Contact Yvonne for availability: yvonne [at] artjewelryforum [dot] org
Photo: Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash
Upcoming: Switzerland (September 2023)
Zurich, Lausanne, Geneva, Solothurn, Biel
+ Private tour of the Louis and Alice Koch ring collection and archives at the Swiss National Museum
+ Visit Christoph Zellweger's home/studio; he was a 2017 Susan Beech Mid-Career Grant finalist
+ Exclusive visit of Bernhard Schobinger's studio
+ Johanna Dahm's and Fabrice Schaefer's studios
+ Special event with the Magpies (a group of European collectors) at the home of jeweler Esther Brinkman
+ Go to Friends of Carlotta gallery, Galerie SO, Galerie Viceversa, Galerie Annick Zufferey
+ Tour of MUDAC
Contact Yvonne for availability: yvonne [at] artjewelryforum [dot] org
Photo: Stephen Leonardi on Unsplash
AJF's 2022 Trip to San Francisco
Highlights:
+ Visits to the studios of Rebekah Frank, Julia Turner, emiko oye, and Sandra Enterline
+ Mike Holmes (Velvet da Vinci) presented his personal jewelry collection
+ Tina Rath shared her latest body of work
+ Visits to the homes of collectors Susan Beech and Dorothy Saxe, and to de novo gallery
+ Exhibitions: Guo Pei and Iris Eichenberg: Where Words Fail, from the 2021 Susan Beech Mid-Career Grant winner