What you’ll learn in this episode: Why the Netherlands has a high concentration of the world’s art jewelry galleries Why public funding and support is crucial for the survival of art jewelry How Rob finds new artists, and how he defines what a strong piece is How Rob uses social media to find clients across the world  About Rob Koudijs Rob Koudijs is the founder and owner of Galerie Rob Koudijs, a 100-square-meter exhibition space located in the gallery district in the center of Amsterdam. The gallery specializes in contemporary art jewelry which communicates ideas, has sculptural qualities, and uses materials in innovative ways. The gallery represents a group of jewelry artists who produce work challenging the borders of the applied and the fine arts. As these artists come from all corners of the globe, the latest international developments are on display in regular solo shows and in the gallery’s collection. As well as showing jewelry, Galerie Rob Koudijs stocks a range of books and catalogues by the represented artists. Additional Resources:  Website Facebook Instagram Photos: EVERT NIJLAND necklace ‘Red’; silver, glass photo: Eddo Hartmann NHAT-VU DANG earrings ‘Dominique’; silver photo: Ceyhan Altuntas TERHI TOLVANEN necklace ‘Lunatic’; silver, wood, windowpane oyster photo: Terhi Tolvanen ESTHER BRINKMANN ring ‘20ba-4’; fine gold, iron, jade photo: Esther Brinkmann HELEN BRITTON brooch ‘19B022’; silver, tiger eye, lapis lazuli, jasper photo: Helen Britton PAUL ADIE ring ’Talk to Me’; silver, aluminium photo: Paul Adie Transcript: Rob Koudijs knew he was taking a risk by leaving his original career path and opening an art jewelry gallery in Amsterdam. That risk paid off, because Rob Koudijs Gallery is still going strong nearly 15 years later, despite jewelry still being a niche art form. He joined the Jewelry Journey Podcast to talk about how he discovered his interest in contemporary jewelry, where he thinks the industry is headed, and why the Netherlands has a robust culture of art jewelry. Read the episode transcript below.  Sharon: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Jewelry Journey Podcast. Today, my guest is Rob Koudijs—I’m going to let him pronounce his name—founder of a leading art and jewelry gallery in Amsterdam. He’s also a leading figure in championing art jewelry. We will hear about his jewelry journey today. Rob, welcome to the program. Rob: Thank you very much, Sharon. Sharon: I’m so glad to talk with you. Tell us about your jewelry journey. How did you get involved in jewelry and art jewelry in particular? Rob: Do you want to have the long story or the short one? Sharon: We want the full story. Rob: Then I will start where it all began. That was about 40 years ago. I met the man who is now my husband. He was starting architecture in Delft, and when I was in Delft, we went to an art gallery. They had jewelry and he thought, “O.K., I’m an architect. This jewelry is very conceptual, very architectural, and I can wear it.” He bought a piece from Joke van Ommen I don’t know if you know her, but Joke van Ommen was a Dutch artist. A few years later, she went to the United States and founded Jewelerswerk in Washington. I think that must be interesting for you as well. That’s how it started. It was not me; it was he who bought a piece, and then he got interested. We both were interested in art and design, but we didn’t know anything about contemporary jewelry. We thought about finding books about it. Well, there was nothing in the world, not at that time. We are talking about 1979. There was one book shop in Amsterdam and they had books—I don’t where they found them—about contemporary jewelry. I’m telling you about that art book shop because we were invited to a birthday party there. There we met Ruudt Peters —you probably know him—and he— Sharon: Ruudt Peters? Rob: Ruudt Peters, that’s how you pronounce it. It is a funny journey, because he invited us to his birthday party, and I’m talking about 40 years ago