Press Room

Annual Benefit Exhibition and Sale of Artist-Made Jewelry and Accessories 
May 3–7, 2025 

New York, NY (March 25, 2025)

The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) announces the 25th edition of MAD About Jewelry, the Museum’s annual exhibition and sale of contemporary jewelry, taking place from May 3 to May 7. This milestone event will feature the work of 50 established and emerging artists from 23 countries, showcasing exceptional pieces that redefine jewelry design.

MAD About Jewelry kicks off with an Opening Benefit Brunch on Saturday, May 3, honoring Frank Everett, a distinguished jewelry expert and Vice Chairman for Jewelry at Sotheby’s. Before joining Sotheby’s, Everett built his luxury career at Bulgari, later holding key roles at Tiffany & Co. and serving as Director at Harry Winston. A trusted authority in the field, he has captivated a global audience for over a decade through Frank’s Files, his acclaimed video series produced by acclaimed auction house.

Brunch guests will enjoy the exclusive first look at the jewelry being presented this year prior to the celebration of Everett’s remarkable contributions to the world of jewelry that will take place at Robert. As a visionary leader and dedicated advocate for jewelry craftsmanship, his influence has set a gold standard of excellence—one that perfectly aligns with MAD’s mission. Proceeds from the event will support MAD’s mission to advance contemporary art, craft, and design.

This year’s artists explore innovation and cultural heritage through distinct approaches to jewelry-making. Xinyi Chen (England) transforms electronic waste into intricate jewelry she calls “Artificial Intelligems,” merging digital materials with traditional metalsmithing. Valeria Molinari (Italy) reimagines backgammon game pieces as wearable art, crafting resin and Murano glass jewelry inspired by the board game. Joana Correia (Portugal) works with organic materials in her Silk Cocoon and Orange Peel collections, embracing imperfection and nature’s resilience. Cano Jewelry (Colombia), a family-run brand with over a century of history, preserves pre-Colombian goldsmithing traditions through contemporary lost-wax creations. 

Yuka Taniai (Japan) sees the act of dressing up as wearing light, exploring transparency and reflection through acrylic, nylon, and metalworking techniques. She creates layered, three-dimensional forms that give physical shape to time and ephemeral phenomena like sunlight, wind, and water. Inca Starzinsky (England) combines her background in graphic design and printmaking with jewelry, crafting sculptural, hand-painted pieces from brass, silver, stainless steel, and enamel paint, with her “Float” collection turning hollow forms into vibrant, wearable expressions of color and design.

KINRADEN (Denmark), founded by architect and designer Sarah Emilie Müllertz, merges architectural precision with organic beauty, using recycled gold, sterling silver, and FSC-certified Mpingo blackwood to create sustainable, sculptural jewelry inspired by modernist principles and nature’s raw elegance. Also coming from Copenhagen is Monies, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary of design, known for bold, avant-garde jewelry that integrates raw, unmanipulated materials, blurring the line between jewelry and art.

Each year, MAD About Jewelry awards an artist(s) the Acquisition Prize, an opportunity for their work to enter the Museum’s permanent collection. This initiative reinforces MAD’s commitment to celebrating groundbreaking jewelry design and preserving it for future generations. “For 25 years, MAD About Jewelry has stood as a testament to creativity, ingenuity, and community,” said Tim Rodgers, MAD’s Nanette L. Laitman Director. “This event not only highlights exceptional artistry but also serves as a vital source of support for the Museum’s exhibitions and educational initiatives. We extend our deepest gratitude to the artists, collectors, and patrons who make this event possible and look forward to another year of inspiration and celebration.”

The jewelry on view will range from necklaces to earrings, brooches, rings, and bracelets in a breadth of materials reflecting diverse cultural perspectives and artistic approaches. Beyond serving as a premier platform for contemporary jewelry, MAD About Jewelry remains a cornerstone of the Museum’s philanthropic efforts, with proceeds directly supporting exhibitions and educational programs. This event offers an exclusive opportunity to speak to and buy from the artists directly, bringing a catalogue of unique jewelry from around the world to one place. 

MAD About Jewelry reflects the Museum’s commitment to the exploration of materials and process, as well as its long-standing presentation of jewelry as an art form. MAD is the only American museum with a gallery dedicated to the display of both temporary jewelry exhibitions and its own collection of contemporary and modern studio and art jewelry.

For additional information and event updates, please visit www.madmusem.org or contact Darci Spasojevich at darci.spasojevich@madmuseum.org.

Join us in commemorating 25 years of MAD About Jewelry, where artistic excellence and community engagement converge.

#MADAboutJewelry2025 @mad_aboutjewelry

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN

The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) champions contemporary makers across creative fields and presents the work of artists, designers, and artisans who apply the highest level of ingenuity and skill. Since the Museum’s founding in 1956 by philanthropist and visionary Aileen Osborn Webb, MAD has celebrated all facets of making and the creative processes by which materials are transformed, from traditional techniques to cutting-edge technologies. Today, the Museum’s curatorial program builds upon a rich history of exhibitions that emphasize a cross-disciplinary approach to art and design, and reveals the workmanship behind the objects and environments that shape our everyday lives. MAD provides an international platform for practitioners who are influencing the direction of cultural production and driving twenty-first-century innovation, and fosters a participatory setting for visitors to have direct encounters with skilled making and compelling works of art and design. For more information, visit madmuseum.org.