JELO6 Project Athens 2026

Following its successful trajectory as Athens Jewelry Week (2016–2020), its relaunch in Athens in 2024, and its expansion to Cyprus in 2025, JELO6 Project Athens 2026 returns dynamically from May 13 to 17 with the Benaki Museum / Pireos 138 as its central hub, transforming the city into a vibrant network of contemporary jewelry, ceramics, and art objects.

An acronym for Jewelry + Objects + our 6 Senses, JELO6 proposes an expanded way of approaching art, activating the body and the senses as means of understanding and participation. Here, art is not presented merely as an aesthetic outcome, but as a process, an experience, and a field of dialogue between creator and audience. Jewelry—the starting point of the event—is redefined not only as a functional, decorative, or fetish object, but also as a carrier of meaning, even as a subtle form of activism. As an extension of the body, it connects to a “sixth sense”—an awareness of our presence in space—acquiring symbolic and social dimensions.

At the core of the event is the central exhibition titled “Jewelry + Objects + our 6 Senses – The Importance of Participatory Art. Can Art Be A-Political?”, opening on 13 May at the Benaki Museum (Pireos 138). Contemporary jewelry, ceramics, and art objects coexist here as equal media of artistic thought and expression. Guest artists Georgia Gremouti, Faye Papargyropoulou, Jana Machatová, and Peter Machata contribute to shaping the exhibition’s artistic identity, while Carin Reinders, representing the CODA Museum (Netherlands), actively engages in the dialogue around collecting practices and participatory art. In parallel, the exhibition series “Material Quests” is hosted at the Museum Shop, featuring works by Lily Preve and Saravich Sungtrakankul, recipients of the related awards in previous editions of the JELO6 Project.

JELO6 extends beyond the museum space, unfolding across the city through an extensive program of parallel events. The program opens with a two-day seminar by Charon Kransen (11–12 May), titled “Are we makers or are we artists?”, raising questions about identity and the position of the contemporary creator.
Talks, presentations, and theoretical discussions take place on 15 May at the Benaki Museum, Koumpari building, with the participation of leading figures such as Caroline Broadhead, Georgia Gremouti, Jana Machatová & Peter Machata, Mari Ishikawa, Sofia Björkman, and Carin Reinders. The lecture series concludes with Eliana Negroni (Aedo), opening a discussion on contemporary publishing practices in jewelry.

The participatory dimension of the event is highlighted through workshops such as “Interwoven Bodies / Silent Commons”, a non-verbal, experiential workshop by Niki Stylianou, Xenia Deimezi, and Ira Spagadorou, exploring the relationship between body, material, and collectivity. In parallel, the workshop “From Scrap to Jewelry” by Anamma School, led by Anastasia Anglopoulou and Karolos Vlachiotis, focuses on transformation and the re-signification of materials. Both workshops will take place at Benaki Museum, Pireos 138.

The city is activated through a wide network of exhibitions and events: the performative project “Kremastra” by Dariusz Wojdyga and JELO6 Project at Lola Bar; the Studio Visit & “Jour-fix” project at Ira Spagadorou’s studio; exhibitions by Anamma School at THE127 and by the Light Factory Creative Hub at Roma 5 Design; “Al Zekra” by Sofia Zarari at the Katakouzenos Foundation; as well as exhibitions and presentations at venues such as Cylindrus.lab, Agapis Gallery, and Uni.Versus Art Room.
The event culminates on 17 May with open discussions, a roundtable, and the Awards Ceremony at the Benaki Museum, Pireos 138.

JELO6 Project Athens 2026 operates as a platform for meeting and exchange, bringing together artists, curators, collectors, and cultural institutions, and contributing to the formation of an active and interconnected artistic ecosystem. The team behind JELO6 Project—Niki Stylianou, Dionysis Grigoratos, and Liana Pattihis—invests in co-participation and offering, within a framework that safeguards autonomy while strengthening community.

Warm thanks are extended to the jury members and sponsors for their valuable support. Special thanks to the Benaki Museum and its team for their hospitality, trust, and continuous vision in actively supporting initiatives of contemporary artistic expression.


JEWELRY+OBJECT+ our 6 SENSES @ Benaki Museum / Pireos 138, Participating Artists:

Individual Artist:
Aggeliki Madi // Aggeliki Simeonidi & Stefanos Kyritsopoulos // Anastasia Gemeliari // Andri Lambrou and Fotis Vasiliou // Aggelika Komis // Angelos Konstantakatos // Dariusz Wojdyga // Demitra Thomloudis // Dominique Lietaert // Dora Haralambaki // Iro Kaskani // Katerina Glinou // Laura & Martine Feiereisen // Laura Moisa // Leonie Yagdjoglou // Lily Kanellopoulou // Marina Zachou // Rena Metaxa.
 
Emerging Artists:
Bette Nunneley // Dominik Cunningham // Isabel Wang Pontoppidan // Leopold Juenger // Lili Barglowska // Marie-Caroline Locquet // Miles Robinson // Ralph Parks // Roanne Sanchez-Watts // Zoe Clark.
 
Previously Awarded Artist in both ATHENS 2024 and CYPRUS 2025 editions:
Anastasia Kandaraki // Huimin Zhang // Joy Stathopoulou // Lauren Kalman // Lily Preve // Maria Ioannou // Maria Karystinou // Punch Patcharakamol Suwannakit // Saravich Sungtrakankul // Sylvie Godel // Thisbe Stadier.
 
Our Guests:
Faye Papargyropoulou // Georgia Gremouti // Jana Machatova and Peter Machata.
 
Specially Invited:
Caroline Broadhead // Erato Kouloubi // Liana Pattihis // Maria Ghizi // Mari Ishikawa // Sofia Björkman // Yolanda Naranjo.


SATELLITE EVENTS, Participating Artists:

Solo Exhibition: Sofia Zarari [Jewelry + sculpture.

Collectives: Krama.

Galleries: Agapis Gallery: MetaTi Collective // Cylindrus.lab:  Areti Karabela, Pandelis Vlasiou// Uni.Versus Art Room: Demitra Thomloudi, Huimin Zhang, Sofia Bjorkman//

Schools and Art Hubs: Anamma // the Light Factory Creative Hub.

Studio Visit: Ira Spagadorou Studio.


The central exhibition, JEWELRY + OBJECTS + our 6 SENSES, will be hosted at the Benaki Museum – Pireos 138.
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Satellite exhibitions and events will unfold across collaborating galleries and art spaces, as well as in alternative venues throughout the center of Athens, creating a vibrant network of artistic activity across the city.

Our program is rich and dynamic, featuring studios and exhibition openings across central Athens, alongside artist talks, seminars, presentations, and workshops, culminating in the Awards Ceremony on Sunday, May 17. We hope you will find it inspiring and that your time in Athens will be filled with meaningful encounters and networking opportunities.


>> Find here the complete program of events.

>> Jury

>> Awards

>> Seminars and Workshops at Jelo6