October 2026
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.
OPEN CALL: AJF’S 2027 SOLO EXHIBITION AWARD
Open to jewelry artists of any age and nationality, this $20,000 grant has as its objective to support the creation of a solo exhibition to advance an artist working in the field of art jewelry. The proposed project should be about jewelry, loosely defined. Deadline: November 15, 2026. More.
OUR NEXT AJF LIVE: OCTOBER 23, 2026
Aaron Decker and Emily Banas on collecting with purpose at the RISD Museum. How do museum purchases shape collections along with artists’ careers? Join jeweler and enamelist Aaron Decker and Emily Banas, associate curator, decorative arts and design at the RISD Museum, for a conversation about the philosophy and practical decisions behind acquiring contemporary jewelry. Drawing on acquisitions Banas has made for the museum, they will explore how purchases build collections, support emerging makers and established artists, and bring new perspectives into museums. Decker will share an artist’s perspective on how these investments provide vital resources to sustain and grow a practice. Together, they will discuss the opportunities and challenges of museum acquisitions and offer insights into building relationships between artists and institutions. Register here.
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
COUNTDOWN TO NYC JEWELRY WEEK 2026
It’s about a month away, and the schedule is filling with opportunities to discover, learn, and connect through jewelry! Check it out here.
EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW OF BARBARA HEINRICH FINE JEWELRY
At Gravers Lane Gallery, November 4, 2026. By appointment only. Book your private consultation/viewing here.
SEE EARRINGS GALORE AT NYC JEWELRY WEEK 2026
Earrings Galore is an annual juried exhibition of a rich and diverse array of earrings made by 60 emerging and established studio jewelers. The exhibition is intended to create more access for the public to engage with art jewelry, cultivate connections with the community, and provide opportunities for people to add to their jewelry collection. Info.
WHERE THE LAND MEETS THE SKY SPOTLIGHTS WORK BY BROOKE MARKS-SWANSON
The land is more than inspiration for the artist; it is material and memory, rhythm and ritual, a language she has returned to across decades of making. In this exhibition, the AJF member gathers materials born of earth and water. Entwining clay, stone, shell, pearl, silver, gold, and other organic elements into compositions of pattern and repetition. Built row by row and bead by bead, these intimate tactile landscapes hold the imprint of a lifelong connection to the natural world. At Patina Gallery through October 31, 2026.
GRAVERS LANE GALLERY LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
Not only will it allow the Philadelphia gallery to better manage its inventory, but there are also treats for you with new artist pages, new inventory photos, and easier searching and browsing of everything available. Check it out here.
BODYWORKS: THE JEWELRY OF ART SMITH
Explore the wearable modern art of one of the most celebrated 20th-century jewelers in this striking book. The mid-century modernist jeweler considered the human body as integral to his jewelry as the metals, wire, and semiprecious stones he used to make it. Bodyworks presents 160 images, including previously unpublished design sketches and historic photographs alongside newly commissioned photography. Together, they offer a comprehensive visual record of 60+ of Smith’s bold, fluid, and creative designs. By Joanne Hyppolite and AJF member Toni Greenbaum, with a foreword by Joyce J. Scott. More.
EVERYTHING’S UNDER CONTROL, AT ESPACE BORAX
Group show featuring Dua Fatima Baig – David Bielander – Amal Yung-Huei Chao – Nicolas Christol – Dominik Cunningham – Poras Dhakan – Esteban Erosky – Shilpa Gupta – Matti Höfert – Yaning Liu – Jorge Manilla – Teresa Milheiro – Matteo Staffaucher – Sinem Yildirim – Melane Zumbrunnen. November 28–29, December 5–6, and December 12–13, 2026. More.
“MELTING WITH PURPOSE: DEVELOPING RICH TEXTURES WITH TORCH-FUSING TECHNIQUES,” TAUGHT BY KRISTIN SHIGA
In this virtual class, the AJF member teaches you how to use the heat of your torch to selectively melt and fuse surfaces, creating rich, organic textures perfect for one-of-a-kind jewelry and small metalwork. From Metalwerx, held November 3 and 10, 2026. Info.
DEADLINE LOOMS TO APPLY FOR THE SCHMUCK SPECIAL SHOW
Sixty-five or so pieces are selected for the annual international exhibition of art jewelry. Founded in 1959 by Dr Herbert Hofmann, it’s the oldest show of contemporary jewelry in the world. Deadline: October 31, 2026. Info here.
APPLY FOR CLUSTER’S REMOTE ONE-MONTH JEWELRY ARTIST RESIDENCY
Create from your own studio, on your own schedule. Professional and peer mentorship. Materials covered. Guaranteed press feature. Solo exhibition in London, with shipping, travel and accommodation provided. Deadline: October 23, 2026. Info and application here.
MARJAN UNGER LECTURE 2026
What does craft have to offer now that artificial intelligence is taking over knowledge work? Through the example of the goldsmithing technique of filigree, goldsmith Eva van Kempen and archaeologist Maikel Kuijpers explore what craftsmanship means, from the individual maker to the broader sweep of human history. At the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 2, 2026, 19:00–22:00. More.
NEWS FROM ALL AROUND
TROUBLE PARFAIT (PERFECT TROUBLE): LOOKING BEYOND APPEARANCES, TAMING ILLUSION
Features work by 2026 Young Artist Award winner Benedict Haener, and Jiro Kamata. Both of these creators’ approaches embodies a pop aesthetic that is resolutely contemporary, but they nonetheless contain a nostalgic or fantastical element woven into their work. At Hectare Gallery, in Brussels, Belgium, October 15–November 28, 2026. More.
THE ART OF TRANSFORMATION: THE JEWELRY OF MARK SCHNEIDER
Guest curated by Elyse Zorn Karlin, featuring 40 pieces of jewelry. Schneider’s starting point is the gemstone. Rather than coming up with a design and then finding a gemstone to fit it, he usually finds the gemstone and waits for it to “speak to him.” Sometimes this process is immediate; other times he will have a stone in his collection for 10 or 20 years before the stone makes its intention clear. At the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, in Oak Brook, IL, November 7, 2026–March 28, 2027.
METAL+ART: CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY AND OBJECTS BY METALWERX ARTISTS
Metalwerx celebrates the creativity, craftsmanship, and remarkable range of its community. Jewelry, vessels, sculpture, wearable art, and other metalwork created by Metalwerx studio mates, faculty, and staff offer a glimpse into the many ways artists transform metal into art. Through October 25, 2026. More. Metalwerx Jewelry School & Studio, in Waltham, MA, US, has been a creative home for artists, jewelers, students, and makers of all backgrounds and experience levels for 25+ years.
ON FRIDAY. VIVI TOULOUMIDI, AT DEUTSCHES GOLDSCHMIEDEHAUS HANAU
The Greek maker explores jewelry as an expression of social and political issues: as a symbol of belonging, a means of exclusion, or a form of resistance. She examines the historical traces that can be stored in objects and questions the hierarchies between craft and artistic disciplines. In her jewelry, Touloumidi combines theoretical and historical research with practical work at her workbench, weaving together art, design, and craft with poetry, language, and activism. November 1, 2026—April 11, 2027. More info.
REFLECTIONS IN JEWELLERY: MEMORY AND IDENTITY
A large-scale public presentation of the Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry’s collection and masterworks brought to Japan from Germany after a 50-year absence, showing approximately 350 pieces by post-war jewelry artists. The exhibition adopts a specifically Japanese perspective to examine the potential of jewelry as a form of artistic expression that has penetrated the wearable space. At The National Museum of Art, Kyoto, in Kyoto, Japan, October 24, 2026–January 17, 2027. More.
HAND TO FORM
This exhibition brings together eight contemporary jewelry artists from Turkey, exploring the relationship between material, craftsmanship, process, and the human hand. On view November 16–22, 2026, at Turkish House in New York. Opening reception November 16, 1–5 pm. A panel titled “Hand to Form: The Language of Making” features an artists’ conversation and Q&A, November 18, 3–4 pm, followed by a cocktail reception 4–5 pm.
L’ART DE LA CITATION
Conceived by curator Elsa Vanier, this show presents the work of 11 contemporary jewelry designers who drew inspiration for their own creations from the works of renowned artists. At the Musée du Bijou Contemporain, in Cagnes-Sur-Mer, France, October 24, 2026–January 31, 2027. Info.
BEZIELING (INSPIRATION), AT MUSEUM ARNHEM NOVEMBER 21, 2026–FEBRUARY 7, 2027
Discover 50+ years of work by Ruudt Peters, one of the most important innovators in contemporary art jewelry. The exhibition, on display in the corridor, shows how Peters has repeatedly pushed the boundaries of jewelry. More.
OPPORTUNITIES
OPEN CALL—ISRAEL BIENNALE OF CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY
The organizers invite artists and designers worldwide to explore this year’s theme: “Silent Resonance—Between Independent Thought and the Movement of the Masses.” Jewelry is more than an ornament—it’s a statement, an idea, and a quiet force capable of sparking dialogue. Examine the dynamic tension between individual freedom and collective momentum. Deadline: November 1, 2026. Details.
APPLY FOR “DESIGNERS IN RESIDENCE” RESIDENCY IN PFORZHEIM
Granted to young artists from the fields of jewelry, fashion, accessory, industrial, graphic, and other areas of design. Three designers will work on their projects April 1–June 20, 2027 at EMMA – Creative Center Pforzheim. Includes use of fully equipped workshop workplaces and co-working spaces in the Creative Center and free accommodation for the period. In addition, each scholarship holder will receive a monthly support of 1,000€ plus travel costs. Special allowance available for material costs. The results of the scholarship will be presented in an exhibition. Deadline: November 2, 2026 23:59 CET. Full info.
OPEN CALL: KORU9 – TRACES OF LABOUR
This year’s theme, Traces of Labour, invites artists to explore the connections between jewellery, work, identity and society. Deadline: November 15, 2026. More info.
JEWELRY EVENTS
SILVER + FORM – CONTEMPORARY JEWELLERY AND SILVERWARE FAIR 2026
Silver + Form returns to Turner Contemporary, bringing together 26 exceptional jewelers, silversmiths, and metalsmiths from across the UK. The curated fair celebrates contemporary jewelry, silverware, wearable art, and sculptural objects, offering visitors the opportunity to meet artists, discover original work, and discuss bespoke commissions. November 21–22, 2026. Info.
CHICAGO RESPONSIBLE JEWELRY CONFERENCE CELEBRATES 10TH ANNUAL GATHERING
The event brings together the jewelry industry, human rights organizations, and conservation leaders to address gold, gemstones, diamonds, and mining community impacts. Sessions include Sudanese Gold Funding a War and Policy in Action; The “Paraiba” Gemstone Rush in Ethiopia; Mining and Effect on Fresh Water Fish and Communities; Beyond Recycled Gold: Why and How; Mapping the Path of Gold: Keeping Mercury Out of Nature and Jewelry; Natural Diamonds: The Future of Responsible Diamonds in an Economic Crisis; a conversation on the environmental and social impact of AI. October 23–24, 2026. Info.
RADIANT PAVILION STARTS OCTOBER 24, 2026
There have been a number of updates from artists in the past few weeks, so be sure to check the website for current details of each exhibition and event. Explore the program here.
BIRMINGHAM JEWELLERY BIENNIAL: MAY 1–30, 2027
A major new festival that celebrates jewelry, craftsmanship, and contemporary design, set across the Jewellery Quarter and wider city of Birmingham, UK. The event will bring together makers, artists, collectors, students, and visitors from across the UK and beyond in the city that has been at the heart of British jewelry for centuries. The program includes everything from exhibitions and open studios to workshops and show-stopping installations. Website.
PAGES SPOTLIGHTING JEWELRY
The Vienna-based lawyer and attorney Dr. Karl Bollmann (1943–2022) was a passionate enthusiast and well-respected connoisseur of international auteur jewelry, which he collected with his wife, Heidi, from 1970 to 2022. Today the Bollmann Collection is one of the most important private collections of artistic jewelry in the world, comprising 1,748 one-off pieces by the international avant-garde. It features the most significant artists of early art jewelry from the second half of the 20th century, accompanied by representatives of the generation that followed. This is the first book to present the collection in its entirety. More.
THE PORTRAIT MINIATURE: A NEW HISTORY
This study, by the V&A’s Damiët Schneeweisz, Rosalind McKever, and Adriana Concin, brings the fascinating stories behind this intimate art form to a broad audience. This vibrant history of miniature portrait painting links art, fashion, and society in a captivating tale of identity and representation. It explores the genre’s global reach and highlights the important role of women in its development. Richly illustrated with miniatures shown at or close to their actual size, as well as enlarged details that allow the reader to revel in the painters’ skill. More.
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