Roma Jewelry Week 2023: contemporary jewelry between history and future

Roma Jewelry Week returns to the Capital for its third edition, featuring a rich program of events from October 6th to October 15th, 2023. The week expands to welcome new projects. This internationally acclaimed event enhances and spreads the culture of contemporary, authorial, and artistic jewelry and historical goldsmith realities.

Monica Cecchini – Alessandro Onorato – Valeria Percossi Papi – Giulia Silvia Ghia

Given the success of previous editions and the validity of this initiative promoted by the association Incinque Open Art Monti, this year RJW sees organizational and logistical collaboration with Municipio I – Rome center, following a municipal resolution; in collaboration with VIVE-Vittoriano and Palazzo Venezia, with the patronage of the Metropolitan City of Rome, the Department for Security Policies, Productive Activities, and Equal Opportunities, and “Municipio I Rome Centro” and in collaboration with the Municipality of Valenza. Special thanks for collaborating with Alessandro Onorato, Councilor for Major Events, Sports, Tourism, and Fashion of Rome Capital.

“Given the success of previous editions, the Roma Jewelry Week has experienced an upgrade this year, resulting in the co-design of the event with Municipio I – Rome Centro through a specific municipal resolution. We have helped this event build a real network and a true jewelry district, thanks to the doors that the Municipality managed to open at the level of cultural, municipal, metropolitan, and state institutions that were involved. Goldsmith art has ancient origins, so we considered it appropriate to involve archaeological spaces, such as the Markets of Trajan, which will host the Incinque Award, a contest aimed at goldsmith artists from around the world,” says Giulia Silvia Ghia, Councilor for Culture of “Municipio I – Roma Centro”.

“Rome has a precious goldsmith and artisan tradition to defend and transmit to new generations. Craftsmanship is the soul of our neighbourhoods and even less central areas of the Capital where their talent represents a treasure trove of skills, history, work, and passion that we should all hold dear. This is the spirit with which we strongly wanted this beautiful event to take place in the city, enriching the panorama of Rome’s visit opportunities for Roman residents and tourists. From this perspective, we are working a lot, confirming and welcoming international, cultural, social, and sports events in the city that can represent an additional reason for tourists to visit the Eternal City,” says Alessandro Onorato, Councilor for Major Events, Sports, Tourism, and Fashion of “Roma Capitale”.

The event features numerous initiatives with participation from artists and designers from around the world who, through RJW, can exhibit their creations. The protagonists of the event once again are jewelry designers, goldsmith artists, jewelry ateliers, galleries, academies, schools, and associations. For the third edition of RJW, contemporary jewelry continues to be promoted as a true work of art with its own narrative. For 2023, the Rome Jewelry Week chooses the theme “Second Life.” In line with the new technological evolution that is shifting interest more and more towards virtual reality, RJW aims to approach these themes with a reflective gaze that does not shy away from the present and can engage with the future. The reflection also leads to considering reinterpretation to create new balances while respecting the rules of nature. In this sense, the theme Second Life can be understood as giving new life to an object that has already lived a life.

The aim is to offer a high cultural content to the event and fully recover awareness of the value of arts, creativity, and traditions that can be made available to innovations and contemporaneity, and vice versa. Valorizing the great cultural and intangible heritage.

The RJW event is conceived by Architect Monica Cecchini, project director, and organized with the support of the Department of Culture of Municipio I – Roma Centro, represented by Councilor Giulia Silvia Ghia and with the consultation of Barbara Brocchi, creative manager, illustrator, writer, designer, and coordinator of the jewelry design department at IED-Rome, Bianca Cappello, professor, historian, and jewelry critic, Claudio Franchi goldsmith, silversmith, historian, and art critic, Laura Astrologo Porché, jewelry journalist, editor-in-chief of the Watches & Jewels section of the Celebre Magazine World editorial group, editor for Robb Report Italy, Rapaport, Orafo Italiano, and other magazines, lecturer and holder of the instagram page @journaldesbijou, Giorgia Zoppolato, Jewelry Blogger, Marketing Psychologist, Art Director, and Set Designer for jewelry photography, @missgio_jewelryblog and this year also with the contribution of artist Emanuele Leonardi. With the aim of strengthening relationships, even for this third edition, RJW has involved many entities, protagonists of a rich schedule, and to date boasts the continuous participation of the University and Noble College of Goldsmiths, Jewelers, Silversmiths of Alma City of Rome, and the Camerlengo Consul of the University and Historical Goldsmith Art Aldo Vitali.

A preview of the Rome Jewelry Week will be the exhibition “Beyond the Border – goldsmith and pictorial works” by the artist Rocco Epifanio at the Casanatense Library, from October 4 to 6. Rome Jewelry Week officially opens its doors on October 6 with the exhibition “Re-Findings. Jewelry between Rome and Valenza,” which will showcase the works of the Neo Roman School of contemporary jewelry and the Master goldsmiths from Valenza. The exhibition, hosted in the halls of the Napoleon Museum, in the spirit of collaboration and sharing, aims to renew the encounter between the arts, anticipating what will be the 2nd edition of Valenza Jewelry Week in 2024. Monica Cecchini and Claudio Franchi curate the exhibition. Also opening RJW is the collective exhibition at the Incinque Open Art Monti gallery. An exhibition that inaugurates a new season of the space, which from October will be dedicated to contemporary jewelry in a permanent manner. The format includes some artists and designers who will be defined as residents and exhibit their creations throughout the year. The residents will in turn host other artists temporarily. This way, there will be a continuous dialogue between the arts. The new project takes shape on October 6 from 6:30 pm with the resident artists Incinque Jewels, who will host the KOK Kollettivo Orafo Kontemporaneo group. We are honored to announce a conference “From the Silk Road to Venice” by Alessio Boschi, a globally recognized and appreciated jewelry designer, which will take place at Palazzo Venezia on October 7 at 6:00 pm, and will see the participation of Edith Gabrielli, Director of VIVE – Vittoriano and Palazzo Venezia, and the Councilor for Culture of Municipio I Rome Center, Giulia Silvia Ghia, with Barbara Brocchi as moderator, creative manager, illustrator, writer, designer, and coordinator of the jewelry design department at IED-Rome. “The VIVE – Vittoriano and Palazzo Venezia houses one of the most remarkable collections of applied art in Italy. The collection, which starts from the Middle Ages and goes up to the twentieth century, includes numerous and sometimes extraordinary objects of goldsmith art. Leveraging history, I am pleased to collaborate with the Rome Jewelry Week 2023 organized by the I Municipio of Rome Capital and the Association Incinque Open Art Monti: the event allows the public to establish an ideal bridge between the heritage of VIVE and the culture of contemporary jewelry,” declares Edith Gabrielli, Director of VIVE- Vittoriano and Palazzo Venezia.

The Association Gioiello Contemporaneo AGC organizes an exhibition in the Alternatives Gallery curated by Rita Marcangelo and Maria Rosa Franzin, scheduled from October 7. The exhibition “The Swallow in Flames” by Paola Gandolfi and Le Sibille opens on October 9 at the Le Sibille atelier. For over 30 years, Le Sibille have been experimenting, like in an alchemical laboratory, with materials, stones, and metals, transmuting and giving artistic value to their collections; micro-mosaic jewelry, which become table objects or to be admired as architectural works and in any case capable of inspiring or astonishing the discerning eye of an observer who intuits and sees transversely, captured in the vibration of colors and artistic forms. Inspired by the artist Paola Gandolfi, with whom they found synergy for the powerful messages that unite them, they ventured into new volumes, techniques, and dimensions, succeeding in realizing a project like La Rondine in Fiamme. On October 10, guided tours return to the districts of Rome, the beating heart of RJW. Discovering the history and prestige of the Eternal City, goldsmith ateliers will open their doors to visitors for an immersive narrative of creativity, contemporaneity, and ancient techniques that are passed down from generation to generation. This year’s new feature is the organizational collaboration of Open City Rome in promoting the RJW 2023 tours and managing reservations.

On Tuesday, the 10th of October, the performative narrative will be inaugurated at the Verdastro workshop, an ancient shop where the Verdastro family has been carrying out their “cassai” activity with expert skill, unique in Rome since 1919. Marco Verdastro designs and creates original watch models, handcrafting them. The performance begins with a reading from a passage in Levi’s book that mentions Verdastro’s watchmaking.

On the 12th of October at 5:00 PM, the book “Gioielli a Firenze / Jewels in Florence, Fratelli Peruzzi archive 1880-1970” by Bianca Cappello will be presented. The event will occur at the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia and feature Maria Paola Guidobaldi, Monica Cecchini, Steven Tranquilli, Laura Giannoni Peruzzi, and Bianca Cappello.

Scheduled for the 12th of October, a guided tour of the Capitoline Museums is not to be missed, led exclusively for RJW by the Director of Civic Museums, Ilaria Mariani Miarelli.

The highly anticipated exhibition of works from the Percossi Papi atelier will be held at the prestigious archaeological site of the Markets of Trajan, showcasing some of the jewelry from the exhibition “The Precious Journey of Dante – The Divine Comedy in the jewelry of Percossi Papi.” After receiving great success in Madrid and Sofia, Percossi Papi brings a preview of the exhibition to Rome for the Rome Jewelry Week.

This year, the Incinque Jewels Prize organized by the Incinque Open Art Monti Association returns for its fourth edition, promoting the culture of Contemporary Jewelry. The exhibition will take place from the 13th to the 15th of October at the Markets of Trajan, an exceptional site for its historical significance. Approximately 80 artists from around the world will exhibit their creations designed and created for this year’s theme: Second Life.

During the Incinque Jewels Prize, an exciting performative experience in collaboration with elda.about, titled “Tactile Dialogues – RJW ’23 Experience,” will also take place. The performance is conceived as an invitation to tactile dialogue, involving the audience in manipulating materials to explore the concept of wearability of a sensation.

Among the prizes up for grabs are the Teilor Prize for students, the international prize, the special or career prize, the HOMI FASHION&JEWELS Prize, which offers an exhibition at their event as a prize, the I DAVERIO Prize for sculpture jewelry, committed to supporting and promoting excellence in art and craftsmanship, the MISSGiò Prize, and the Elena Donati Prize for young artists. A new addition is a prize/consultancy created in collaboration with designer Rossella Ugolini. The Markets of Trajan will host the Neo School of Contemporary Jewelry with an exhibition of unpublished works. Also exhibited at the Markets of Trajan is Kazakh artist Nurdos Aliaskarov.

On the 14th of October at 5:00 PM in Monterotondo, at Carlo Lucidi Gallery, “New Stories II” will present an extraordinary collection of wearable micro-sculptures by Lithuanian artist Kamile Staneliene.

As in the previous edition, during the week, a series of conferences on the theme of jewelry and its various forms will be held, led by various industry experts at Palazzo Valentini on the 14th of October and Palazzo Braschi on the 15th of October. Speakers will include Vincenzo Aucella, Gino di Luca, Laura Astrologo Porché, Nurdos Aliaskarov, Alessia Crivelli, Alessio Boschi, Luca Daverio, Paula Guzman, Wallis Hong, and Teilor. The conferences will be made possible through collaboration with the Metropolitan City of Rome and the Capitolina Superintendence.

Among the participating schools is the European Institute of Design – IED Rome, which will host a workshop with Kazakh artist Nurdos Aliaskarov, and the university-level artistic training school for fashion, design, and photography, Accademia Italiana. A new addition this year is the participation of two international schools: HTF Hard to Find from Mexico and MINOSS Jewelry Academy from Korea.

The collective exhibition with the Second Life Capsule returns this year, hosted at the exclusive rooms of Palazzo Velli in the center of Trastevere, where artistic performances will also occur. The rooms will also host the Design Pal project by Thai Puan Creative Hub, a collaboration between Naresuan University (Thailand) and IED Rome (Italy) aiming to combine Thai elegance and culture with Italian style. It’s important to highlight the significant work carried out by Promperú (Peru Export and Tourism Promotion Board) in support of the Consortium of Jewelry from Cajamarca, a city in the Peruvian Andes. Llull Joyas will represent the Consortium at Rome Jewelry Week with a collection inspired by the Huacos of the pre-Columbian Mochica culture.

This year’s new addition is the first Jewelry Illustration contest launched by Rome Jewelry Week. This special and innovative event aims to celebrate the creativity and excellence of illustration, offering participants from around the world the opportunity to showcase their works. In collaboration with Winsor & Newton, RJW will allow the contest winners to receive a prize consisting of vouchers for a supply of materials.

Among the participating associations are AGC Contemporary Jewelry Association, which will curate a collective exhibition of contemporary jewelry authors at Alternatives Gallery, curated by Rita Marcangelo and Maria Rosa Franzin, scheduled for October 7th; OTP Officine di Talenti Preziosi, which will curate an exhibition to celebrate the association’s 10th anniversary at Plus Arte Puls gallery on Viale Mazzini, 1 – Rome, followed by exhibitions and conferences from the 13th to the 15th of October; AReAM, which will organize a collective exhibition and, on October 11th, a round table titled “Architectural Jewelry” – a tribute to Elviro Di Meo, featuring contributions from various figures from the architecture world such as professors Ruggero Lenci and Franco Purini.

The RJW event is made possible thanks to the support of sponsors: MILANO FASHION&JEWELS International Trade Show, Teilor, Elena Donati, Daverio1933 sculptors of jewels, Montanelli Restauri S.r.l., M.O.S.T. CND S.R.L. monitoring & structural testing, Winsor & Newton, Residenza Maritti, Q’S Rummeria, Lihos, Casale del Giglio, and Homero Studio.

PARTICIPATING NAMES FOR INCINQUE JEWELS AWARD: Laura Agnello Modica, Arte & Bellezza by Dragana Mircetic, Asimi by Anna Butcher, Hani Baayoun, Ivan Barbato, Shirley Blanch, Rossano Caldaroni, Simone Cipolla, Chantal Corso, Damea by Elena De Battisti and Giancarlo De Battisti, Gaia Descovich, Dettagli D’Attimi by Pinella Distefano, Betti Domonyi, Melinna Elizondo, Ellence by Elle Di Muro, Etra by Ilaria Bonomo, Chiara Fenicia, Chiara Fenicia and Anna Pinzari, Roberto Fenzl, Daniela Ferrero, Formedarte by Rosa Maria Venetucci, Isabella Gabbin, Angela Gentile, Patrizia Giachero, Giove sulla Luna by Monica Petrella, Claudia Gobbi, Cristiane Iglesias Arenas, Kamay by Camille Chikli, Les Mascarones by Inga Macaron, Francesca Luciani, Elda Maresca, Maria Patrizia Marra, Gina Melosi, Gianni Misto, Francesca Mo’, Anastasia Mukhortova, Narratrame by Silvia Pichi and Fernando Masone, Ornella Pandolfi, Tania Marta Pezzuolo, Lon Phanna, Maria Gaia Piccini – Pontevecchio Maria Gaia Piccini, Anna Pinzari, Andreia Gabriela Popescu, Igor Quagliata, Macarena Ravioly Cataldo, Luigina Rech, Renata Jewellery Maker by Renata Dragusin, Ines Reynoso, Francesco Ridolfi, Serena Sciarrini, Sognando lo scirocco by Anna Paparella, Simone Vera Bath, Verba Mundus by Anna Fanigina, Metteo Vitali, Marie Therese Wolf, Zefiro by Annette Schreyer, Zilfi by Pati Kakhniashvili.

Ai Mercati di Traiano

The Neo Roman School of Contemporary Jewelry and Nurdos Aliaskarov

THE SCHOOLS

Italian Academy Julianna Berdyn, Dong Ik Lim, Camila Martinez Parente, Francesca Pallaoro, Negar Sanaei IED-Rome: Valentina Brunetti, Emma Calce, Lisa dal Pont, Marta Ferrara

MINOSS JEWELRY ACADEMY:

Yuri Choi, Jinwoo Joun, Haekyung Kim, Rihyun Kim, Keun hee Kuag, Harang Kwak, Juwon Mun, Sion Mun, Minyoung oh, Gaun Park, Jinhee Park, Sunju Park, Sunsuk Park

HTF – HARD TO FIND:

Chavez Paula Angelica Guzman Gutierrez, Elizabeth Guadalupe Hernandez Sarmiento Montaño, Maria Rojas Gome, Alejandra Aguirre, Juan Diego Cervantes, Ana Paula Manjarrez

ARTISTS EXHIBITING AT THE NAPOLEONIC MUSEUM:

For the Neo Roman School: Laura Abramo, Riccardo Alfonsi, Franchi Argentieri, Glauco Cambi, Flavia Diamanti, Fontanagioielli, Michele Forlenza, Negri Gioielli, Cristiana Perali, Anna Pinzari, Rose’s Jewellery, Nicola Vitali, and Le Sibille For the Goldsmiths’ Archives of Valenza: Annaratone, Barberis Carlo, Callegher, Ceva gioielli, Crivelli gioielli, Leo Pizzo, Margherita Burgener, Monile Jewels of Italy, Moraglione, G. Verdi & C., For.Al “Vincenzo Melchiorre”. The jewelry piece “La fragilita’ degli abbracci/Raíz de luz,” resulting from the collaboration between the artist Elizabeth Aro and the company Lombardi Srl, will also be displayed.

ATELIER AND RJW LOCATION NAMES:

Atelier Agau by Sonia Cerquitella, Atelier Anna Retico, Atelier Cristiana Perali, a goldsmith workshop since 1907, Atelier Franchi Argentieri, Atelier Giulia Iosco, Atelier Glauco Cambi, Atelier Le Sibille, Atelier Mere Art Femelle – Informed Jewels by Del Mastro, Atelier Negri Gioielli, Atelier Rose’s Jewellery by Rosa Piellucci, Atelier Percossi Papi, Alternatives Gallery, Incinque Open Art Monti Gallery, Spazio Monti Gallery, Napoleon Museum, Verdastro Watchmaking, Palazzo Velli, Il Micromosaico Art Studio by Luigina Rech, Alfonsi Jewellery Studio, University and Noble College of Goldsmiths of the Alma City of Rome.

ARTISTS EXHIBITING IN A GROUP SHOW AT INCINQUE OPEN ART MONTI GALLERY: Myriam Bottazzi, Simone Vera Bath, Chiara Fenicia, Emanuele Leonardi, Anna Pinzari, and Lorella Verrillo. K.O.K – Kollettivo orafo Kontemporaneo (Contemporary Goldsmiths Collective)

NAMES: Maria Elena Abbate, Marco Aschi, Angelo Bordino, Enza de Pinto, Stefano De Robert, Adriana del Duca, Simona della Bella, Barbara Ebbli, Stefania Mairano, Paolo Mangano, Raimondo Oliviero, Ebi Rahbarian, Maddalena Rocco, Federico Vianello, Bruno Villani

OTP NAMES: Aschi Collezioni, Rossella Bernardini Papalia, Gioia Capolei jewelry design, Emanuela Faitelli, Chiara Fenicia, Daniela Ferrero, Francesco Lops, Lorotraledita, Stefania Rainone, Maria Paola Ranfi, Orietta Montanari, Maitai Jewels, Marco Serra, Anastasia Seulli, Silvia Silor, Marina Valli, Vover Jewelry Design, Maria Laura Venturelli AGC NAMES: Maura Biamonti, Alice Biolo, Natalia Cellini, Corrado De Meo, Stefano Fronza, Mari Ishikawa, Yukiko Kakimoto, Giulia Morellini, Mariangela Murgia and Alberto Catalano, Liana Pattihis, Roberta Pavone, Daniela Repetto, Roberta Consalvo Sances, Yoko Takirai and Pietro Pellitteri, Yiota Vogli, Babette von Dohnanyi AReA M NAMES: Elena Bonuglia Bonuel, Lucio Campanelli, Elviro di Meo, Emanuela Faitelli, Brunella Ferrarese, Ruggero Lenci, Tito Livio Negri, Monica Petrella, Valentina Piscitelli, Maria Clelia Scuteri. At the Trastevere Atque Studio exhibition, Hilal Baymis, Gabriella Campanella, Carola Caputo, Betti Domonyi, Lalla’s Maria Laura Luccetti, and Jenn Wells Studio will be showcased.

The Rome Jewelry Week is made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsors: Homi Fashion&Jewels exhibition, Teilor, Elena Donati, Daverio1933 sculptors of jewels, Montanelli Restauri S.r.l., M.O.S.T. CND S.R.L. monitoring & structural testings, Winsor & Newton, Residenza Maritti, Q’S Rummeria, Lihos, Casale del Giglio, and Homero Studio. During this week dedicated to contemporary jewelry, exhibitions, performances, conferences, and workshops unfold, showcasing the creative fervor and constant commitment of all involved stakeholders. Here are some of the most anticipated initiatives:

• Exhibition “Ri-Trovamenti. Jewelry between Rome and Valenza”: The exhibition takes place at the Napoleon Museum and represents a blend of the Neo Roman School of contemporary jewelry and the Valenzan Master goldsmiths. The exhibition celebrates the intersection of goldsmith traditions from Rome and Valenza, two places rich in history and craftsmanship.

• Exhibition “Il prezioso cammino di Dante – La Divina Commedia nei gioielli di Percossi Papi” (The Precious Journey of Dante – The Divine Comedy in the jewelry of Percossi Papi): This extraordinary exhibition takes place at the Mercati di Traiano and explores the theme “Second Life” through jewelry inspired by Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, created by one of the most renowned jewelry workshops, Percossi Papi.

• Incinque Jewels Award: The Incinque Jewels Award is a highlight of the event, now in its fourth edition. Around 80 artists from around the world will exhibit their creations, interpreting the theme “Second Life” with creativity and passion. It is a unique opportunity to celebrate contemporary jewelry, honoring excellence and supporting young talents.

• Exhibitions and performances: Besides the main exhibitions, RJW includes numerous exhibitions and performances in various cultural spaces in Rome, offering a wide range of artistic experiences related to contemporary jewelry.

• Conferences and workshops: The program includes conferences and workshops where experts and enthusiasts in the field share their knowledge, experiences, and visions for the future of jewelry.

RJW is a unique opportunity to explore the creativity that takes shape in contemporary goldsmithing, bringing together past, present, and future in a tapestry of emotions and stories told through precious metal. It’s an opportunity to discover jewelry not only as an aesthetic object but as a vehicle of cultures, passions, and innovations, capable of narrating our world.

The Incinque Open Art Monti Association, together with the Department of Culture of Municipality I – Rome Center, is grateful for the contribution of all participants and sponsors who made this edition of RJW possible, an extraordinary event that continues to promote goldsmith art as a vehicle of culture and beauty.

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RJW is a fundamental piece in Rome’s broad cultural mosaic, a celebration of art that makes the Capital a unique place, where past and future meet through jewelry, telling timeless stories of life and beauty.