Win $20,000 to support the creation of a solo exhibition featuring your contemporary jewelry—apply for the Linda Peshkin Solo Exhibition Award! It aims to advance an artist working in the field of art jewelry, and it’s open to jewelry artists of any age and nationality. In this interview, we speak to one of the three jurors for the 2027 cycle of the grant. (The other jurors are Jorge Manilla and Geraldine Fenn, who we interviewed here.)
Applications are now being accepted for the 2027 Solo Exhibition Award. The proposed project should be about jewelry, loosely defined. Deadline: November 15, 2026. Click here for more information.
Art Jewelry Forum: First, a little background. Please explain how you were introduced to contemporary jewelry and what you are doing now in relation to it.
Bella Neyman: I was initially introduced to contemporary art jewelry through an exhibition curated by Elyse Karlin on jewelers of the Hudson Valley at Forbes Gallery about 20 years ago. However, my real initiation happened through Art Jewelry Forum and a trip to Munich Jewelry Week several years later. Nine years ago, I founded NYC Jewelry Week—this year, it takes place November 16–22, 2026—and contemporary jewelry is a big part of the festival.
This is the second time AJF is presenting this award, thanks to Linda Peshkin’s generosity and love of art jewelry. What do you think is important about a solo show? How can it impact an artist’s career?
Bella Neyman: This award is so important because there are limited opportunities for contemporary jewelry artists to exhibit their work. The biggest barrier is often financial, as producing an exhibition is a considerate financial undertaking, especially if the artist does not have the support of a gallery. Therefore, this award provides artists with the resources they need to be independent. A solo show is very important. Many see it as a point of validation.
However, what makes it even more important is that it’s an opportunity for the artist to be able to tell their story in a cohesive and thoughtful manner. To create a narrative and present it to a larger audience, to take their work out of their studio and have conversations that are far-reaching is the ultimate goal, in my opinion, and a solo show affords artists those opportunities. The impact that it can have is paramount, and sometimes that impact can be felt for many years to come.
What do you think is the single most important conversation for artists to be having today?
Bella Neyman: I think that conversation is different for everyone, but they must remain true to themselves and to their practice.
Besides grants such as this one, what other ways do you think artists can be encouraged and supported?
Bella Neyman: In general, artists should be supported across disciplines, and as curators, writers, gallerists, and collectors, we all need to play our part. That being said, I think it’s also the responsibility of our government to recognize the important role of the arts in our culture. Artists need to feel supported not only so that they can create but also so that they can create as a full-time job. The romance of the poor artist is outdated, and when something has the power to transform lives, we need to make sure that there is a foundation for artists. The system in this country is broken when we discourage our children from pursuing careers in the arts because we don’t think they’ll be able to support themselves. Instead, we should explain the importance of the arts, take pride in our craft, honor our heritage, and push them to express themselves in ways that will move and impassion others.
The opinions stated here do not necessarily express those of AJF.
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