Celebrating Life by Paul Derrez

Artist list

Paul Derrez

The Exhibition: “Paul Derrez – Celebrating Life” can be seen from February 20^th thru November 30^th, 2025, and showcases his oeuvre of jewellery, objects and silverware. As a festive extra, the exhibition includes a collection of new spoons. Naturally, Derrez has drawn inspiration from his rich oeuvre and experience with respect to theme and design, as well as material use and technology.

Paul Derrez was born in 1950 and grew up in Sittard, where his grandparents and parents had a Jewellery shop. His interest in jewellery and silversmithing was awakened at an early age. He followed various studies, honing his creative, communication and technical skills. He studied at the Academy for Expression through Word and Gesture in Utrecht (1970-1972) and subsequently obtained his goldsmith’s diploma at the Vocational School Schoonhoven (1972-1975). He established his name by founding and running Galerie Ra (1976-2019) in Amsterdam, a leading place for contemporary jewellery and objects.

His work is characterised by clear design. He often combines contrasting materials in a design, such as steel or silver for the construction, with acrylic for colour and light effect. This playful mix is clear to see in his first design, the iconic Wisselring (Change Ring) from 1975. He alternates between formal, minimalist designs - such as the Möbuis Necklace – and playful, exuberant ones – such as his Confetti Collection. There is also room for irony and social commentary. Special objects by Derrez include his Condom Monstrance, a work of art with a halo of hearts and sperm cells. Here he takes a critical look at the relationship between the church and sexuality. His Conversation Bowl, a silver bowl with two male profiles as handles, also symbolises interaction and dialogue.

In addition to his artistic work, Derrez has always been committed to the emancipation of contemporary jewellery as an art form. He was chairman of the Françoise van den Bosch Foundation and taught at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, among others. His dedication to the craft has inspired generations of artists.

This anniversary exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience the versatility of Paul Derrez. His oeuvre shows that jewellery and silverware cannot only be beautiful, but also stimulating and meaningful. I hope that visitors walk through the exhibition with a smile on their faces and experience: this is how you can celebrate life!


from Old to New Year
2024 was the year my life changed drastically: after 50 years of happiness with Willem, I suddenly became a widower.

I’m lucky to have dear friends. Old friends with whom I can share memories of Willem. And new friends who never got to know Willem – which, in its own way, is healing as well.

As ever I’m working on jewellery and objects, mostly spoons at the moment, and despite some cursing when something goes amiss, I really enjoy that. Showing the first spoons at the Grassi Messe Leipzig and later on with Galerie Passi at the PAN Amsterdam went quite well. The succes and the pleasant interaction with the public do me good, even though such activities make me emotional because I used to experience them with Willem.
Right now everything is dominated by my major retrospective exhibition in the Zilvermuseum in Schoonhoven. It is wonderful to see how things are developing: the spoon collection, the overview, the presentation and the publicity. Liesbeth den Besten wrote a very nice article for the Dutch magazine Collect about my career and work, and Saskia van Es wrote an article about me for the German magazine Art Aurea. Both articles will be published near the opening-date of the exhibition, on February 20, 2025.

But I’m also starting to look beyond this milestone.

Around mid-March Miecke and me will visit Schmuck in Munich, where Warwick Freeman, who had his first international show in Ra, will have a retrospective exhibition in the Pinakothek der Moderne. By then my books on jewellery and archive of catalogues have been donated to the library of this museum.

To find a destination for your professional achievements during a rich career, finalises a period. It literally creates space and order. It also gives me headspace to make new plans again, and continue celebrating life. Together.
I wish you all a beautiful year.
/ Paul Derrez


Opening hours
Tuesday - Sunday: 11 AM - 5 PM