What you’ll learn in this episode: The difference between art jewelry and jewelry by artists Why more collectors and jewelry enthusiasts are starting to appreciate artist jewelry How Elisabetta helps visual artists bring their first pieces of jewelry to life Why artist jewelry is a smart investment About Elisabetta Cipriani Elisabetta Cipriani invites world leading contemporary artists to create aesthetically innovative and socially relevant wearable art projects. Since the opening of her namesake gallery in 2009, Elisabetta’s pioneering vision has redefined the boundaries between jewelry and fine art, capturing the imaginations of artists and collectors across the globe. The gallery has collaborated with over 50 critically acclaimed painters and sculptors, including Ai Weiwei, Chiharu Shiota, Giulio Paolini, Ilya & Emilia Kabakov, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Enrico Castellani, Erwin Wurm, Giorgio Vigna, Jannis Kounellis, Rebecca Horn, and Pedro Cabrita Reis, to name a few. The gallery’s projects can be found in museums and private collections across the globe, including Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris; Museum of Art and Design, New York; World Jewelry Museum, Seoul; and The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. A number of Elisabetta Cipriani’s jewelry collaborations are featured in From Picasso to Koons: The Artist as Jeweler, the international touring exhibition of artist jewelry curated by Diane Venet. Elisabetta Cipriani participates in leading art and design fairs, including Design Miami and Design Basel, TEFAF Maastricht, Artissima Turin, MiArt Milan, PAD London, and PAD Monaco. Additional Resources: Instagram Website Photos: Available on TheJewelryJourney.com Transcript: Sharon: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Jewelry Journey Podcast. This is the second part of a two-part episode. Today, my guest is Elisabetta Cipriani, founder and owner of the gallery Elisabetta Cipriani Wearable Art, a gallery of limited-edition jewels created by artists. The gallery has collaborated with more than 50 well-known painters and sculptors since its opening in 2009. Welcome back.    I remember years ago, even eight, nine years ago, I bought an artist jewel, and people just didn’t understand why you would buy a jewel from an artist. In fact, I was listening to a panel once, and somebody said they wouldn’t buy an artist jewel by Man Ray because it wasn’t what he was known for. That really surprised me, because I think I would want a piece like that because it’s so unusual. What changed?   Elisabetta: I think people are more knowledgeable now. They study more. I’m talking about art, not about jewelry. Even young collectors who want to start a collection, they are eager to learn more about the artist and the works. I think they are acquiring a stronger sensibility in work that is art. Can jewelry be art? Yes, if it’s done by an artist. Also, when people see an art piece from an artist and they see a jewel from the same artist, they see the connection. The dialogue is the same; there is a continuity.   Before, people were probably seeing it as a decorative piece rather than a pure art piece. The traveling exhibition really helped because it went to New York, it went to Miami, it went to Venice, it went to Paris at the Museum of Decorative Arts, I think Brussels. It went everywhere, and she is still working on it. She wants to bring it to Brazil and a main city in Italy like Milan or Rome. She’s working on it. So, people are seeing art as jewelry, and they understand that it’s not decorative, but it’s an art piece. It’s collectable, and it is precious not because it’s a jewel, but because it is an intimate aspect of an artist.    An artist, especially in the past, they didn’t do it for a commercial purpose. They did it for themselves, for their friends, for their lovers. It was only later that, for example, Picasso had François Hugo, who was doing his gold plates. He asked Picasso if he could do those big plates reduced as small medallions to wear