Today, we talking with Linda Peshkin, who recently created a new grant for makers of art jewelry. AJF’s Solo Exhibition Award will offer US$20,000 for the creation of a solo exhibition by an artist of any age or nationality, to be completed within two years. The winner of this first edition will be announced in Munich, during Schmuck, in March 2025.
Applications are currently being accepted. The call for entry is open through January 12, 2025. Get the guidelines here.
AJF: First, a little background. Please explain how you were introduced to contemporary jewelry, and what you’re doing now in relation to it.
Linda Peshkin: Many years ago, I began attending art and craft fairs and found myself drawn to the jewelry. At an American Craft Council show in Baltimore about 15 years ago, I met an artist who had been the recipient of the AJF Emerging Artist Award. I had never heard of Art Jewelry Forum and had no idea that an organization existed that was solely focused on art jewelry!
I immediately checked out the AJF website and saw that they were planning their first international trip to London (this was in 2010). I signed up to go on the trip. The rest is history. AJF opened my eyes to a whole new world of jewelry and has given me the opportunity to meet some amazing people and see amazing creations. I try to go on most of the AJF trips—I love the behind-the-scenes access we get and the opportunity to interact with artists, gallerists, curators, and educators.
This is the first time AJF is presenting this award, thanks to your generosity and love for art jewelry. You have decided to benefit solo exhibitions. What do you think is important for a solo show? How can it impact an artist’s career?
Linda Peshkin: A solo show allows an artist to demonstrate their vision and craftsmanship in a cohesive way. Obviously, the exposure can lead to more recognition and attract collectors and others in the art jewelry world, which can ultimately lead to more opportunity. It can go far in cementing an artist’s place in the jewelry world.
What made you decide to create and fund this award?
Linda Peshkin: When I learned that the Susan Beech Mid-Career Grant was ending, I wanted to come up with a grant to replace it, but with a slightly different focus.
Often, after artists finish their education, they no longer have access to all the tools and resources they had when they were in school. As they start out and move along in their careers, they often need support to grow and develop new bodies of work. After some brainstorming, we came up with the idea of supporting a solo exhibition. Artists who aspire to have their own show might lack the means to make it happen. Hopefully, this award can jumpstart the career of an emerging artist or showcase the work of an established artist.
What is the single most important conversation for artists and professionals in the jewelry field to be having today?
Linda Peshkin: Art jewelry doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves as a legitimate fine art form. I think major strides have been made in the last decade, as more museums are showcasing jewelry, more books are being published, and social media like Instagram is making art jewelry visible to a broader audience. But the field still struggles with legitimization.
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