Museums

AJF was started by a group of collectors who wanted to join with others in learning more about contemporary art jewelry and show their support for the field. The relationship between collectors and museums is an important one and in this section of the website, you will find information about museums around the world that collect contemporary art jewelry, or hold exhibitions of contemporary jewelry as an ongoing part of their programs.

08 January 2012

The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Damian Skinner

What is really notable about this display is its insistence on placing commercial or conventional jewelry, made with precious materials, alongside what we would call contemporary jewelry. With its focus on jewelry as it is defined at the outset – body adornment with a range of functions – the display makes no judgments about quality or distinctions of worth. more...

06 October 2011

The Schmuckmuseum, Pforzheim

Damian Skinner

The historical gallery is a full-on experience. I'm torn between sympathy and envy: feeling sorry for European contemporary jewelers, who have to deal with the weight and excellence of the past; and feeling envious, because they get to experience the rich diversity and history of jewelry and they know they are part of a tradition that stretches back into antiquity. more...

24 June 2009

The Museum of Arts and Design, New York

Jane Shannon

'I fell in love with this jewelry,' admits Ursula Ilse-Neuman 'and I included it in many non-jewelry exhibitions, including the Garry Knox Bennett retrospective, highlighting his work as a metal sculptor. I also featured cutting-edge jewelry in Corporal Identity: Body Language: 9th Triennial Exhibition, which we presented jointly with the Museum of Applied Arts in Frankfurt, Germany.' more...