A Conversation with Maria Nepomuceno

Vases (Vaso Vida), 2021 necklace and ring (necklace vase 5.5 x 7 cm; ring 3 x 3 cm) Edition of 10. Signed and numbered   The Brazilian artist Maria Nepomuceno creates imaginative and playful contemplations of the world around us. Through her original technique of sewing coloured ropes into vivacious spiral shapes, Nepomuceno’s work explores the regenerative powers of human bodies, human societies and human interactions with nature. The Financial Times magazine called the artist’s bright, biomorphic forms ‘an alternative to wasteful consumerism’, and across the globe world-renown art institutions such as the Barbican Centre in London, The Norval Foundation in Cape Town, Museu de Arte Moderna in Rio de Janeiro have commissioned her to brighten their spaces with her colourful, thought-provoking sculptures. Nepomuceno has worked with the indigenous braiders of Brazil’s north eastern Acre region, and she brought together a group of artisans in Margate, England to create her Turner Contemporary installation – her practice is continuously enriched and inspired by the partnerships she creates. Elisabetta Cipriani Gallery is proud to become part of her collaborative artistic process, and we are thrilled to present to you the artist’s first wearable art project. E.C: Your wearable art project Vases (Vaso Vida) is […]

1 June 2020 Moving Diamonds by John Moore by Antonella Reina Read

1 June 2020 Lockdown prompts a rethink of how we buy and sell jewellery by Hannah Silver Read  

Having recently won the Gold and Silver awards by The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council Awards, which are considered as the “Jewellery Oscars,” Ute Decker’s works can only be characterised as expressive, three-dimensional “Geometric Poetry”. Her unique, and limited edition pieces have become such a beautiful, distinctive mark to Decker that they have become so avidly collected, with her works sitting in the public collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Musée Barbier-Mueller, the UK Crafts Council Collection and the Swiss National Museum. Elisabetta Cipriani sits down with Ute Decker discussing her highly acclaimed Wearable Art collection. EC: When did you start making jewellery and why? UD: I was 40 when I first exhibited my work – not really a youngster. My background started with studies at the Sorbonne, then a degree in political economics – I worked as a linguist and dabbled in journalism with stints at the UN and CNN. But during all this time there was always a creative urge; taking courses in sculpture, philosophy, photography, ceramics, silversmithing, jewellery and numerous others. It was, however, jewellery that I returned to again and again for over 20 years. Eventually in 2009, I accepted an invitation to take […]

The 8th of March marks the return of International Women’s Day, and with it, Elisabetta Cipriani Gallery honours the multidisciplinary practices of wearable art projects and collaborations with leading female contemporary artists.   On this day, the world brings major recognition to the achievements of women from all industries. It represents that everyone deserves to have a voice, to tell their story, and to choose how they want to convey it. This year, International Women’s Day calls for the theme of Each For Equal, that the world broadens its perceptions beyond seeing gender and focus on what’s truly important, and so we salute the creative talents and ingenuity of women that continue to become so accomplished. For this occasion we would like to celebrate the works of five inspirational female artists who have challenged their artistic practices, often working with sculpture, painting, and architectural design, and redefining what it means to wear a work of art. Experimenting with different materials such as gold and silver, these artists confronted the major complexities surrounding wearable art, how it caters to wearer, how it reflects the characteristic of the artist, and how it presents a design that is fundamentally different from their other […]

February 2020 Under the loupe: Gigi Mariani creates wearable art Read

Elisabetta Cipriani speaks to Ilya and Emilia Kabakov about The Fly  Widely known as pioneers of conceptual art, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov are among the most significant international artists to have emerged in the late 20th century. Having worked together since the late 1980s, the Russian-born American based duo is best known for their paintings, drawings, and immersive installations which address ideas of utopianism. Elisabetta Cipriani invited the Kabakovs to discuss their expansive artistic career and wearable art collection, The Fly. EC: You started working together in the late 1980s. What led to this artistic partnership, and why do you enjoy working together? IEK: This is a loaded question and one we always try to avoid answering. How can you explain why your relationship works? Why your marriage doesn’t fail? Or how you won a lottery/ you simply cannot. But we can say this: love, mutual respect, ability to listen to each other and… intervention of some luck and Angels. The rest is easy. We have been working together for 31 years now and we have known each other… forever. We wouldn’t be together if we didn’t enjoy working together. Our life is our work and our work is our life. EC: Over the past […]

For as long as jewellery has existed, jewels have been worn as amulets, charms, or talismans. A talisman is believed to carry magical and protective powers; some protect the wearer from danger or negative energy, others bring good fortune, and others serve as symbolic declarations of love, strength, and hope. Talismanic jewellery is a universal form of adornment with prehistoric origins. In India and ancient Greece, gold was believed to have healing powers; ancient Chinese and Egyptian culture believed that jewels, such as turquoise and jade, were the keys to the afterlife; the Aztecs understood the mystical value of jewels, offering emeralds and jade to the gods by throwing them into the sea; and in traditional African  and Islamic cultures, talismanic jewellery was worn to ward off evil spirits. Interest in talismanic jewellery, in their different forms, continues to have tremendous international appeal today. Drawing inspiration from both ancient and modern cultural symbolism, Elisabetta Cipriani’s wearable art collaborations highlight contemporary artists’ reinterpretation of amulet materials and symbols to create new kinds of enchanting talismanic jewels. Inspired by ancient beliefs in the mystical healing properties of stones, German contemporary artist Rebecca Horn and Lebanese jewellery designer Noor Fares are united in […]

November 2019 Dangerous Love and PAD London Report Read    

Elisabetta Cipriani’s pioneering concept of wearable art has redefined the meaning of, and the boundaries between jewellery and fine art. Since 2009, her powerful artistic collaborations have captured the imaginations of collectors from across the globe. Today Elisabetta’s gallery is a world-leading artist jewellery gallery representing over two dozen international contemporary artists. This year, Elisabetta celebrates her ten-year anniversary in the wearable art business. We sat down with Elisabetta to look back on her incredible journey over the past decade. What inspired you to start your wearable art business? I have always had a passion for antique jewellery ever since I was a child. Back then, I didn’t know anything about artist jewellery, but I had a passion for beautiful objects. My mother actually used to take out her jewellery with me while I sat on her bed. As I tried on my mother’s jewels, I would constantly ask her if, one day, I could have not one but all of them! Elisabetta’s parents in the 1990’s For me, I’ve always had a passion for jewellery deep in my heart. After finishing school, I really wanted to study jewellery design. I ended up doing a short course on pearls and diamonds, […]