June 2026, Part 2
Art Jewelry Forum is pleased to share all jewelry news. If you’re a member of AJF, you may add news and ideas to this bi-monthly report by submitting here. If you aren’t a member, but would like to become one, join AJF here.
Some of the news items below have no accompanying images. AJF regrets not having the staff capacity to request imagery and permissions from non-members of AJF. You may send us a high-res image (1 MB or larger) for a news listing that concerns you by emailing our managing editor at nathalie [at] artjewelryforum [dot] org. We will promptly add it to the corresponding newsbyte.
TRAVEL TO HOUSTON WITH AJF: SEPTEMBER 23–26, 2026
For our first visit back to Houston in almost 20 years, we’re arriving at an especially strong moment. We’ll visit the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, to celebrate two important exhibitions: the first US solo presentations of Bernhard Schobinger and Dorothea Prühl, both key figures in avant-garde art jewelry. Each exhibition spans nearly 50 years of work. To complement the exhibitions, we’ll attend a day-long symposium featuring leading voices in the field, followed by a reception celebrating these two exhibitions—an opportunity to gather with fellow collectors, artists, and enthusiasts. Our program will also include visits to the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, along with artist studios, museum collections, and other stops that reflect the breadth of the city’s creative life. Save the dates; more info to come!
FEEL LIKE SEEING A JEWELRY SHOW?
Find listings from around the world on our dedicated exhibition page.
EVENTS
We have a dedicated page for them. Go here to see the list.
NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS
DISPATCH FROM THE COLONIES
Geraldine Fenn won the inaugural AJF Solo Exhibition Award. Her resulting show, at Galerie Noel Guyomarc’h through August 1, 2026, explores power dynamics linked to the European colonization of Africa. She drew inspiration from cabinets of curiosities, in reverse: rather than displaying the colonized, she transforms the colonizers into exotic objects. This idea unfolds in jewelry adorned with royal portraits and African trade beads, portraits of aristocrats displaced into a hostile African setting, playing cards depicting miniaturized colonists, hybrid objects blending European and African materials, and collaboration with Zimbabwean beading collective Marigold. Fenn aims for a nuanced reading of colonial history, beyond a simple perpetrator/victim dynamic, contributing in her own way to the reinterpretation of official narratives that still shape our understanding of colonialism. More.
INCONSPICUOUS INTERFERENCE, AT THE BJC JUNE 26–AUGUST 7, 2026
When so much of our material environment is made in distant factories, intended to be quickly discarded, craft acts as an inflection point and interrupts this mindless cycle of consumption. Through the thoughtful making, repair, and use of objects, we are presented with an opportunity to reshape the world we live in, both in the broader communities and economies to which we contribute and in the microcosm of our own daily lives. Hand-crafted objects carried on the body hold the potential to serve as both personal talismans and tools for social and political change. In this exhibition, the Baltimore Jewelry Center presents small artworks that investigate the role of objects carried on the body as instruments for resistance, protest, and change. More. Opening reception June 26, 5–8 pm.
NEKE MOA AMONG THE ARTISTS IN AHAKOA HE ITI
This exhibition is a conversation between contemporary adornment artists Pepi-Joy Gilgen, Gina Matchitt, Matthew McIntyre-Wilson, Aroha Millar, Moa, Rowan Panther, Frances Stachl, and Keri-Mei Zagrobelna. How do we connect to the environment that sustains and nurtures us? The conversation confronts grief for loved ones, and for cultural losses of social structures, language, once-common materials, and the practices and techniques for working with them—while also celebrating their regeneration. The artists ask these questions of each other and also invite the audience into the conversation. Underpinning it all are the intimate relationships between these artworks and the body, transforming each wearer into both a carrier of the narrative and an active participant in it. At Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga Hastings Art Gallery, in New Zealand, through September 12, 2026. More.
VIDEO WALK-THROUGH OF AN EXHIBITION OF ATTY TANTIVIT’S JEWELRY COLLECTION
“I like it. What is it?” Tantivit asks herself this when she encounters a piece of jewelry that draws her in. She’s often attracted to jewelry that resists immediate understanding, pieces that are complex, conflicting, or quietly provocative. In I Like It. What Is It?, Tantivit exhibited part of her collection. Watch here as she takes us through the show in an intimate video.
THOMAS GENTILLE: PRIMARY CONCERNS
Gentille served as the first director of the 92NY Jewelry Center. On view at the 92NY through September 1, 2026. Info.
HEIDI LOWE GALLERY CELEBRATES 20 YEARS! AUGUST 28, 2026, 5–9 PM
Come celebrate the twentieth year of Heidi Lowe Gallery! Info.
SEE MYSTIC MEADOWS, AT PISTACHIOS, THROUGH AUGUST 30, 2026
This ethereal exhibition with dark undertones features nature-inspired work from four Swedish artists—Hanna Liljenberg, Karin Roy Andersson, Märta Mattsson, and Sofia Bjorkman. It addresses themes of transience, rebirth, and the tension that lies between beauty and decay. More.
OPEN CALL: NYCJW26
Designers, artists, makers, curators, and organizations worldwide are invited to propose bold programs and events that celebrate the art and craft of jewelry. Educate, inspire, and connect with audiences around the world, either online or in person. The call also includes applications for the HWA Exhibition Award, a $5,000 prize for a BIPOC artist presenting a solo exhibition. Deadline: June 30, 2026. Info.
BORAX INTERVIEWS ROBIN DERIAZ
The artist discusses his approach to contemporary jewelry and the theme he chose for his first solo exhibition, Matrices, at the Swiss gallery. Watch here.
BJC IMPLEMENTS PAYMENT PLANS
As part of its ongoing commitment to making contemporary craft as accessible as possible, the Baltimore Jewelry Center now offers payment plans on gallery and metal shop purchases! The goal is to create new paths toward building collections and supporting artists for individuals who are new to collecting artwork. Info here, or email info [at] baltimorejewelrycenter [dot] org.
HAROLD O’CONNOR TO TEACH MASTER CLASS IN RETICULATION AND GRANULATION
Reticulation & Granulation: Surface, Heat & Transformation will take place August 19–23, 2026, at Metalwerx. Explore two of the most dynamic and historically rich surface techniques in metalsmithing in a hands-on workshop focused on heat, control, and transformation. Info.
CONSTELLATIONS OPENS AT CHRYSLER MUSEUM JULY 10, 2026
Features 350+ works of wearable art showcasing nearly a century of creativity from jewelry artists across the globe. Explores the myriad ways artists have reimagined jewelry, revealing an extraordinary range of materials, forms, and ideas. Featuring golden crowns formed to look like cardboard, enchanting necklaces made from plastic bags, and whimsical brooches resembling toast, Constellations captures the depth, breadth, and diversity of contemporary jewelry design. More.
TED NOTEN PRESENTS 36 YEARS ON THE ROAD / AKA ROUTE 36
The artist talks about the show in a video posted to YouTube by host gallery Marzee. Watch here.
OPEN CALL: INTERVALS
Amid summer’s energy, this exhibition at Orange County Fine Arts will highlight pauses, silence and spaces between. Intervals might manifest as the gaps between sounds in music, the pause between heartbeats, the distance separating two people, the break in a narrative, the white space on a page, or the temporal shifts within a single frame. Work could address physical space, time, rhythm, silence, absence, or transition and may include any media. Deadline: June 29, 2026. Info. AJF member John Rose is deeply involved with OCFA.
PROGRAM ANNOUNCED: 3RD LISBON CONTEMPORARY JEWELLERY BIENNIAL
With the theme of “Coexistences,” the program includes exhibitions, a colloquium, a gallery expo, and master classes. September 19–27, 2026, with many of the shows lasting beyond those dates. Info.
WATCH A VIDEO OF MARTINA DEMPF’S MASTERING DISASTER
The exhibition was the culmination of Dempf’s residency at the Villa-Legodi Centre for Sculpture, at Nirox Sculpture Park, in Krugersdorp, South Africa. Watch here. Check out the exhibition catalog here.
NEWS FROM ALL AROUND
OPEN CALL—TINCAL LAB CHALLENGE 2026: JEWELRY AND IDENTITY
The concept of identity invites us to look within ourselves—but do we exist without the other? In a time shaped by AI and increasing threats to individual freedom, it feels urgent to reflect on what defines us—and wearing jewelry is a gesture of self-expression. What does the jewelry we create reveal about us? What meanings does it acquire for those who wear it? Deadline: June 30, 2026. Info and application form here and on IG. Let jewelry speak: for the causes we defend, the values we hold, and the singularities that make us human.
METALWERX IS HIRING
The nonprofit school and community studio, based in Waltham, MA, seeks an office manager and a program coordinator. Info.
REVISION: BETWEEN TRADITION AND INNOVATION, AT VILLA BENGEL
This show presents a unique fusion of historical costume jewelry and modern design. As part of the project, students from five European universities transformed Art Nouveau and Art Deco costume jewelry into contemporary fashion accessories. June 26–September 27, 2026. More. Opening: June 25, 2026, 6:30 pm, both in-person and livestreamed on the Jakob Bengel Foundation’s Instagram channel, @jakobbengel; more info here.
HEAVY METAL, AT MORA JUNE 26–AUGUST 7, 2026
Some rings are more than adornment—they become talismans, armor, companions. This show gathers gallery artists for an exhibition of one-of-a-kind rings that explore strength, symbolism, and the powerful connection we form with the objects we wear every day. More.
BLACK IN JEWELRY COALITION COMMUNITY NETWORKING NIGHT
An interactive evening of networking and meaningful conversation, June 23, 2026, 7–8:30 pm EST. Designed to foster authentic connections within its membership community, this event will bring together BIJC members from across the industry to share experiences, exchange ideas, and build relationships in a welcoming virtual setting. Info.
MORGAN HILL NECKLACE FEATURED IN RENWICK’S STATE FAIRS
State Fairs: Growing American Craft is the first exhibition dedicated to artists’ contributions to the US tradition of state fairs, with more than 240 artworks on view, dating from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. Among the jewelry is Hill’s Smorgasbord, in holly, resin, silk thread, paint, steel, and sterling silver.
SOUND OF COLORS, AT GALERIE SLAVIK THROUGH JULY 18, 2026
Works by Mirjam Hiller, Jiayi Zhang, Christoph Straube, Silke Trekel, Margit Jäschke, Rike Bartels, Yoko Takirai, and Pietro Pellitteri. More.
RINGS IN THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA SEQUEL ARE BY STUDIO JEWELER
The film’s costume designers contacted California’s Gallery Lulo looking for jewelry that didn’t just accessorize a character but embodied one. They selected three blackened sterling silver rings with diamonds by Emanuela Duca, each forged from volcanic texture and quiet intention. Emily Blunt wore them throughout the film. More.
DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR ENJOIA’T 2026 LOOMS: JUNE 24, 2026
The international competition is open to professional jewelers and students, who compete in corresponding categories. It recognizes entries that demonstrate creativity, technical skill, and innovation. Particular value is placed on the presence of a conceptual thread that explores and resolves the relationship between the body and the piece, as well as sustainability. Info here. (Confusingly, some of the forms give a deadline of June 14. Seems they’d have to honor the 24th …)
MR POTATO HEAD GOES GLAM
Vogue poked dozens of pieces of high-end jewelry into a tuber for a photo shoot. More.
SAYO OTA SELECTED AS 92Y JEWELRY ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
Ota works at the intersection of contemporary art, craft, and material-based research, approaching jewelry as an expanded and critical medium. Her practice explores how materials can carry cultural memory, social relationships, and history, examining the ways objects of adornment shape identity, intimacy, and power. During her residency, Ota will explore the cultural and material connections between Greenland and New York.
FORMA: MARILENA MICHOPOULOU AND DORA HARALAMBAKI
An exhibition that brings into dialogue two artists within the fields of contemporary ceramics, sculpture, and art jewelry. At Uni.Versus Art Room, in Athens, Greece, through July 18, 2026. Info.
PAGES SPOTLIGHTING JEWELRY
AMERICAN CRAFT COVERS JEWELER WENJING YANG
Yang combines swaths of beads with delicate chain. “Chains have a lot of movement and fluidity, and beads can provide structure,” she says. “They complement each other.” More.
AMONG FRIENDS
Helen Williams Drutt is an American gallerist, collector, mediator, and promoter of contemporary art jewelry. In homage to her 60 years of collecting, this book presents selected works by American and German artists. It includes 140 examples of American art jewelry from the last 70 years, from modernist minimalist or narrative works to objects with a strong sociopolitical message. Almost 100 German works document the various developments in contemporary jewelry in both countries, as well as mutual influences and commonalities. A testament to Drutt’s great devotion to, and engagement with, art jewelry. More.
JOËL FAIVRE-CHALON: 1953–2020
Faivre-Chalon is one of the most famous contemporary French artists in jewelry. A reductive language of forms and the use of unusual materials ensure that the authorship of his pieces is unmistakable. His work is presented for the first time in a monograph in the framework of a donation to the Contemporary Jewellery Museum, in Cagnes-sur-Mer, on the Côte d’Azur. The publication provides a sweeping survey of his work and also vividly demonstrates what contemporary jewelry owes to this artist’s distinctive creations and experiments. More.
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