Welcome to the Art Jewelry Forum’s bi-monthly report for September 2026 (Part 1), bringing together global developments, open calls, exhibition highlights, and essential updates from the contemporary art jewelry community. As always, AJF invites its members to contribute news, events, and ideas to these reports, while non-members are encouraged to join the organization to support its ongoing mission. Readers should note that some listings appear without accompanying images due to staff capacity limitations regarding non-member permissions. However, high-resolution images (1 MB or larger) can still be sent directly to the managing editor to be promptly added to corresponding news items.
Open Calls and Career Opportunities
AJF’s 2027 Solo Exhibition Award
Artists of any age and nationality are invited to apply for the Art Jewelry Forum’s 2027 Solo Exhibition Award. This prestigious $20,000 grant is designed to support the creation and realization of a new solo exhibition aimed at advancing the career of an artist working in the field of art jewelry. Proposed projects should focus on jewelry, broadly and loosely defined. The application deadline is November 15, 2026. The jury panel for this cycle comprises Geraldine Fenn, Jorge Manilla, and Bella Neyman, who bring a wealth of curatorial and artistic expertise to the selection process.
Apply for the 2027 Resonance Residency at BKMW
Brooklyn Metal Works has announced the open call for its 2027 Resonance Residency, providing jewelry artists with a valuable opportunity to develop their studio practice while engaging with New York City’s vibrant contemporary jewelry scene. Open to creators at all career levels, this three-month residency offers semi-private studio space on the educational floor of BKMW, a resident artist reception, an unrestricted stipend of $300 per month, a $300 credit for the BKMW Tool Shop, a $600 credit for coursework at the facility, a $500 stipend for an artist lecture, and paid opportunities to instruct or assist with workshops. Additional benefits include a professional review of the work produced during the residency. The open call begins on September 9, with applications due by October 9, 2026.
Earrings Galore 2026 Deadline Approaching
Time is running out for studio jewelers to submit their work to Earrings Galore 2026, organized annually by the Heidi Lowe Gallery. This established juried exhibition showcases a diverse array of earrings created by 60 emerging and established makers. Selected artists present a cohesive grouping of six pairs of earrings, highlighting their unique approach, technical intentions, attention to detail, and functional considerations. The exhibition aims to foster public engagement with art jewelry, build community connections, and offer accessible ways for collectors to expand their holdings. The application deadline is September 13, 2026.
Open Call for the Schmuck Special Show 2027
Applications are officially open for Schmuck, widely recognized as one of the premier annual exhibitions for contemporary art jewelry. Scheduled for March 2027 during Munich Jewelry Week, the exhibition typically selects approximately 65 international artists to showcase their latest creations. Participants in the prestigious showcase become eligible for notable awards celebrating excellence in the field, including the Herbert Hofmann Prize and the Bavarian State Prize. The application deadline is October 1, 2026.
Featured Events and Travel
AJF Live with Geraldine Fenn
On September 9, 2026, the Art Jewelry Forum will host an online AJF Live session featuring Geraldine Fenn, the inaugural recipient of the 2025 Solo Exhibition Award. Fenn will discuss the conceptual and technical development of her exhibition, Geraldine Fenn: Dispatch from the Colonies, which investigated the power dynamics of European colonization in Africa. Attendees will see highlights from the completed show and learn how the award enabled Fenn to conduct extensive research, master new techniques, and produce work on a scale previously unavailable to her. Special guests will join the conversation.
Travel to Houston with AJF
From September 23 to 26, 2026, AJF members have the opportunity to participate in a curated travel program to Houston, Texas, with day-trip options also available. The itinerary centers around the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), to celebrate two landmark exhibitions: the first United States solo presentations of avant-garde art jewelry pioneers Bernhard Schobinger and Dorothea Prühl. The trip includes behind-the-scenes access at MFAH with special guests Helen Williams Drutt English and Susan Cummins, a day-long symposium featuring leading voices in the discipline, a celebratory reception, visits to the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, and exclusive tours of private artist studios and museum collections.
Perspectives on Contemporary Jewelry: An International Symposium
Complementing the Houston travel program, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, will host a day-long international symposium on September 26, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Titled Perspectives on Contemporary Jewelry, the event accompanies the exhibitions Going Underground: The Jewels of Bernhard Schobinger and The Jewelry of Dorothea Prühl. Scholars, curators, and artists—including Renate Luckner-Bien, Iris Eichenberg, Claudia Schmuckli, and Cindi Strauss—will deliver dynamic talks and lead curator-led tours exploring the intersection of contemporary jewelry, cultural history, and contemporary art. The symposium is free to attend with advance registration, and a livestream option is available for remote participants.
Art Jewelry Week Guadalajara
Running from September 7 to 12, 2026, Art Jewelry Week Guadalajara celebrates Mexico’s rich heritage of materials, craftsmanship, and jewelry-making. Despite this deep tradition, spaces dedicated to discussing, exhibiting, and engaging with contemporary art jewelry remain scarce in the region. The week-long program brings together artists, students, educators, institutions, galleries, and collectors to foster long-term continuity, critical dialogue, and community building within the local and international ecosystem.
San Francisco Metal Arts Guild Celebrates 75 Years
The San Francisco Metal Arts Guild marks its 75th anniversary with a special symposium on October 17, 2026, at the Brower Center in Berkeley, California. The anniversary program features presentations and discussions with Jennifer Altmann, Victoria Lansford, and Doug Bucci, moderated by Curtis Arima. The celebration continues on October 18 with a Great Granulation Workshop led by Victoria Lansford at the Silvera Jewelry School, followed by an open house and tour of the newly established Jewelry and Metal Arts Lab at the City College of San Francisco on October 19.
News from Our Members and Exhibitions Around the World
Metal Museum Reopens in Memphis
After a comprehensive and major expansion project, the Metal Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, reopens its doors to the public on September 11, 2026. As the only institution in the world dedicated entirely to the art and craft of metalwork, the newly expanded museum offers enhanced galleries, educational spaces, and collections highlighting historical and contemporary metal art.
Panel Discussion Recording from NYCJW25 Available
Galleries play a vital role in the contemporary jewelry ecosystem by nurturing emerging talent, supporting established creators, and building lasting relationships with collectors and museums. A recorded panel discussion from NYCJW25, hosted by journalist Caroline Palmer, features leading gallerists and AJF members Esther de Beaucé, Sienna Patti, and Yael Reisner, alongside Elisabetta Cipriani. The participants share their unique professional approaches and insights into the gallery sector.
Asagi Maeda at Fuller Craft Museum
The Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts, continues its run of the exhibition Stories on the Planet: Asagi Maeda through November 8, 2026. In conjunction with the exhibition, artist Asagi Maeda will deliver a special presentation at the museum on October 3, followed by an in-gallery appearance on Sunday, October 4, where she will share her inspirations, creative processes, and artistic vision with visitors.
Märtta Mattsson at Homo Faber 2026
Märtta Mattsson is participating in Homo Faber 2026: An Island of Light, taking place from September 1 to 30, 2026, at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice. Curated by the Michelangelo Foundation with artistic direction by Es Devlin, the expansive exhibition features 15 immersive installations, more than 800 objects, and over 400 artisans hailing from upwards of 70 countries.
Sarah Perkins’s Galiella Enamellum at Mobilia Gallery
Recognized as one of the foremost enamelists in the United States, Sarah Perkins presents her latest body of work at Mobilia Gallery through September 26, 2026. Inspired by the form and color of hairy cup mushrooms proliferating across the Midwest, Perkins’s new series of brooches, necklaces, and earrings explores cup-shaped organic structures, combining raised sterling silver, brilliant enamel, gemstone accents, and innovative stitched seams and textures.
Hansel Tai’s Surf_ at Platina
Platina hosts Surf_: Hansel Tai through September 17, 2026. Tai’s work investigates queer culture in the post-internet era, examining how the natural body is overshadowed by bodily cultivation, physical modifications, subcultural signaling, and high-gloss metals. Taking its title from a dual metaphor of open-water surfing and internet browsing, the exhibition explores adolescent digital freedom and queer cruising, transforming acts of desire and identity into tactile art objects.
Mélanie Denis’s Transition at Pistachios
Pistachios presents Transition, a solo exhibition of work by Mélanie Denis, on view through November 8, 2026. Created over a three-year period, the body of work reflects three distinct geographic territories, internal states, and pivotal life moments, using the landscape as a mirror for personal metamorphosis, grief, emancipation, and renewal.
Goldsmiths Fair Talks Program
During the final week of September 2026, AJF member Bella Neyman is curating a series of four talks at the Goldsmiths Fair in London. The discussions bring together Castro Smith, Megan Brown, Joy BC, and Alice Biolo to explore current creative exchanges in contemporary jewelry. Additional conversations feature Alex Monroe reflecting on his career alongside author Rachael Taylor, Dr. Frances Parton in dialogue with Morvarid Alavifard and Makila Nsika, and Hilton Ingram examining the contemporary role of platinum in jewelry design.
Veronika Fabian Featured in Art Aurea
Veronika Fabian, a member of AJF’s Editorial Advisory Committee, was awarded the prestigious 10,000-euro Friedrich Becker Prize in May. Her award-winning work is currently exhibited at the Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus Hanau through October 18, 2026. Art Aurea recently published an in-depth report covering her achievement and artistic practice.
Märtta Mattsson and Carina Shoshtary at Galerie Noel Guyomarch
Galerie Noel Guyomarch presents Bright Wings, Silent Waves, a joint exhibition featuring works by Märtta Mattsson and Carina Shoshtary from September 12 to October 31, 2026. Both artists utilize nature as a starting point to address contemporary societal themes, with Mattsson expressing self-assertion through brightly colored, organic-themed jewelry, and Shoshtary exploring the conceptual dimensions of protection.
Noel Guyomarch to Speak at Musée des Arts Décoratifs
In conjunction with the Parcours Bijoux triennial, Noel Guyomarch will deliver a lecture at the auditorium of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris on October 1, 2026, at 6:30 PM. His curated exhibition for the triennial, Couleur Matière, will run from October 2 to 10, with an opening reception scheduled for October 3.
Karl Fritsch and Jaime Jenkins in New Zealand
The National, an AJF member gallery in Christchurch, New Zealand, recently concluded Onhold, an exhibition pairing hand-built ceramic installations by Tauranga Moana-based artist Jaime Jenkins with distinctive works by renowned jeweler Karl Fritsch. Additionally, Fritsch is scheduled to appear at the DIVA museum in Antwerp on September 24, 2026, to discuss his casting techniques, ring designs, gemstone usage, and commitment to ongoing material experimentation.
3rd Lisbon Contemporary Jewellery Biennale
Running from September 19 to 27, 2026, the 3rd Lisbon Contemporary Jewellery Biennale centers around the theme of "Coexistences." The extensive program features international exhibitions, a scholarly colloquium, gallery presentations, and master classes, with many of the exhibitions remaining open to the public beyond the official festival dates.
Venice Design Week Jewelry Selection Jury Announced
The jury for the 2026 Venice Design Week jewelry selection—titled I Don’t Shine, I Have something to say—has been announced. Comprising representatives from Pistachios Gallery, Thereza Pedrosa Gallery, Revista AtelieruL, Adoc Asociacion, Galleria Carlo Lucidi, and Alice Floriano Gallery, the international jury will select outstanding pieces for special awards during Venice Design Week. The exhibition runs from October 9 to 18, 2026, at the Wonder Room and Libreria Giovanni within the Fondazione Querini Stampalia in Venice.
Julia Turner at Smykkernes By
Julia Turner will participate in the citywide jewelry festival Smykkernes By in Copenhagen, exhibiting her work at Formwerk as part of the City of Jewelry: Wood exhibition. The festival takes place from October 1 to 3, 2026.
Galerie Marzee 40th International Graduate Show
Galerie Marzee has opened its milestone 40th International Graduate Show, celebrating a new generation of jewelry artists. Bringing together recent graduates from universities and academies worldwide, the exhibition offers fresh perspectives on contemporary jewelry. The exhibition opened on September 12, 2026, and runs through November 17, 2026.
Bongoni Mashange in Garland Magazine
Zimbabwean artist Bongoni Mashange was recently featured in Garland Magazine, where he discusses his artistic journey combining Shona and Ndebele heritage with materials such as blackwood, silver, and resin, turning accidental material spills into a distinct Afropolitan design language.
Daniel Kruger at Gallery GAo ShAn
Daniel Kruger’s exhibition Fragments of the Future is on view at Gallery GAo ShAn in Helsinki, Finland, through October 24, 2026. The presentation explores how Kruger brings historical forms, natural specimens, and ordinary materials into new constellations across jewelry and ceramics.
Vivienne Westwood and Jewellery in Bangkok
The exhibition Vivienne Westwood and Jewellery opened in Bangkok on September 11 and runs through October 23, 2026. The show highlights how Westwood’s iconic designs frame the face, express the body, and load personal adornment with profound cultural meaning.
Cultural Resonance of Jewelry Explored in the Media
Recent mainstream coverage in The New York Times highlighted initiatives by the Jewelry Edit Foundation, which organized master classes led by author Sloane Crosley, professor Theaster Gates, and Hermès Americas chief executive Diane Mahady. The program aims to mentor next-generation jewelry talent while emphasizing jewelry’s profound role and resonance within broader cultural discourse.
Publications and Resources
Eva Eisler: Tamed Infiniti Published by Arnoldsche
Arnoldsche has released Eva Eisler: Tamed Infiniti, a comprehensive monograph exploring Eisler’s multidisciplinary creative practice across jewelry, design, architecture, and fine art. The publication features conversations with architect Pavla Melková alongside writings by the artist and prominent curators and historians.
Jewelry on the Wild Side by Elena Agostinis
Published by ORO Editions, Elena Agostinis’s Jewelry on the Wild Side examines the universal human urge toward self-adornment across remote global communities, highlighting innovative approaches to earth-derived materials used by traditional and contemporary artisans.
The Secret Language of Jewellery in Art by Stella Grace Lyons
Graffeg has published Stella Grace Lyons’s The Secret Language of Jewellery in Art, which uncovers the hidden symbolic meanings of jewelry in art history—ranging from markers of power, wealth, and lineage to expressions of desire, fertility, and anxiety depicted in historical portraits.
Journal of Jewellery Research Volume 9 Released
The Journal of Jewellery Research has published its ninth volume, marking the largest edition released by the publication to date. The complete issue is now available online for researchers, makers, and enthusiasts.
Vivienne Westwood and Jewellery by Alexander Fury and Andreas Kronthaler
Published by Thames & Hudson in close collaboration with the fashion house, Alexander Fury and Andreas Kronthaler’s monograph remains a definitive resource dedicated entirely to Vivienne Westwood’s groundbreaking jewelry creations.
