The Sculptural Beauty of Gigi Mariani's Ironclad Jewelry

Artist list

Gigi Mariani

Combining antique and unique goldsmith techniques with his own personal and contemporary touch, Mariani forms classically composed works in 18K yellow gold and silver. Etched and grated surfaces transform what was once soft and refined into dynamic and powerful expressions, making each piece an intimate self-reflection of his own aesthetic.

In his studio lies a plethora of jeweler’s tools. Yet, strewn across the walls and corners of his space are painted canvases that, at times, instruct what future jewelry will become. Compositions reveal colorful whirls and torrents, scathed in texture and dapples of paint made with a putty knife. One glance at this world informs the artist’s resulting works in wearable art. Among Allison’s curation, silver and gold brooches and rings paired with a statement necklace and bracelet become ironclad, built of firm and structural beauty.

Mariani has exhibited his pieces across Europe and has won multiple awards, most recently being selected for the Herbert Hofmann Prize in 2021. His jewelry can be found in notable collections and institutions, including The Helen Williams Drutt Collection of Modern Jewelry, the Silver Museum, or Museo degli Argenti, in Florence, Italy, the Olnick Spanu Collection in New York City, among others.

I have always been fascinated by the infinite potential that metals offer, and the opportunity of transforming their original properties in order to stretch the scope of what can be achieved...
/ Gigi Mariani