Perspectives from Gallerists. Interview with Jessica Armstrong from Pistachios

Founded in 1991 in Chicago by Yann Wooley and taken over by Jessica Armstrong in 2018, Pistachios Gallery has remained true to its mission: to curate the best contemporary art jewelry while providing a welcoming, accessible, and friendly retail experience.

With a vast permanent collection showcasing both emerging and established artists from around the globe, Pistachios also hosts rotating exhibitions throughout the year. The gallery is driven by a passionate, dynamic team of five whose collective efforts have earned it an international reputation, establishing Pistachios as a must-visit in Chicago.

In this interview, Jessica shares her insights and generous vision for Pistachios Gallery, emphasizing the importance of collaboration over competition.



I had read a few interviews before preparing these questions and immediately noticed that you fully embrace the gallery as a business. Often, galleries are perceived primarily as spaces for exhibition, where the economic aspect takes a back seat. How would you define your gallery and your role as the gallery owner?
I see it as both a space for exhibition as well as a small business. For Pistachios, one does not exist without the other. We rotate our exhibitions every three months or so, with work from artists that we don’t typically represent year-round. Exhibitions are an opportunity to feature more art-forward jewelry, while our tried-and-true staples remain for those looking for everyday wear. But at the end of the day, we are sincerely passionate about promoting our artist’s work, and they directly benefit from each sale.
We are transparent about being a small business and, in fact, are quite proud of it. Our team works incredibly hard to advocate for our artists, and that’s really what it’s all about.


A gallery is often closely tied to its owner, as their vision shapes the selection. Can you share your experience as Yann Woolley's successor in 2018?
I started working at Pistachios back in 2016 as a part-time employee. I have a jewelry background, with my BFA and MFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing, and at the time I was also teaching jewelry classes & workshops while creating my own wearable collections. I quickly learned from the entire Pistachios team, including Yann, and eventually became the Manager.

And so, when I had the chance to approach her about taking over the business so she could retire, I felt so lucky. Since then, we’ve moved locations and the business underwent a bit of a transformation as far as branding goes. But even with the change of ownership back in 2018, the mission statement has always remained the same: to curate the best in contemporary art jewelry while providing an art experience that is inviting, accessible and friendly. I do my best to create an environment where all are welcome, no matter the budget or the style. 


Pistachios Contemporary Art Jewelry gallery inner space.



Has the clientele remained the same, or has it evolved? Have you had to adapt to new expectations?
While Pistachios still has several loyal clients from our previous location, our new brick and mortar has drawn in a brand new audience. We’ve been located at 716 N Wabash Avenue for three years now, and it’s been wonderful. It’s a bit more of a high-end residential area and we love meeting our neighbors.
We also work hard on our social media presence, so having that virtual audience has been great. When people visit Chicago, visiting Pistachios is a must. And with the change of locations, I have definitely noticed a shift in our audience that our whole team has adapted to. We’ve certainly raised the bar - from our marketing / photography / social media to the gallery space itself, which has allowed for us to meet higher expectations of where art meets luxury.


Pistachios Contemporary Art Jewelry front view. 



What type of people are you targeting with your selection, and do you find that some of them purchase pieces as an investment due to their artistic value?
I’m catering to anyone who has a passion for jewelry. We have a wide range of styles so there really is something for every type of collector and budget. But with such a variety, what remains the same is the level of craftsmanship, regardless of what the work looks like. Our clientele cherishes the impressive craftsmanship that our artists boast and are willing to make the investment if the piece is right for them.

Pistachios attracts both locals and tourists alike, being located in the downtown area, with a keen eye for quality, handmade works of art. And, of course, the fact that the work is made by hand intrinsically adds value. There’s something special about a work of art made by hand because it was made with technical skill, passion and perseverance. 


An art gallery often serves as a place for intimate moments between the gallerist, the potential buyer, (the artists if they are present), and the piece itself, even more so when it comes to wearable art.
Which initiative from your program has been the most successful?
We market our small business through various channels and advertise ourselves in print and digitally, but truly, the root of Pistachios’ success is our team. We have a fabulous team of five people that are knowledgeable, passionate and friendly. Clients return because we have incredible work from our artists, but also because of how spectacular our team is. We have made long-standing relationships with our clients and genuinely care for them. And that is, arguably, our biggest success. 


Pistachios Contemporary Art Jewelry gallery inner space.



With your active presence on social media and on international platforms like Klimt02 and AJF that promote contemporary jewelry, has your gallery’s international visibility increased? Do you see this as beneficial, or do you believe it’s become essential in today’s market?
International visibility has increased, and is undoubtedly beneficial. I travel quite a bit internationally to attend shows and galleries, always searching for the next artist to represent or feature in an upcoming exhibition. I’m paying attention to galleries, organizations, and influencers on social media in the jewelry world to get a feel for what is happening on an international level. And with that said, this international network that we are a part of is absolutely essential in today’s market in order to stay active in the community and keep a pulse on current trends. Resources for us like Klimt02 and AJF have been invaluable to our small business, as they keep us on that international map. 

And when social media reposts feature our work, it not only boosts visibility for us but also boosts visibility for our artists and can attract potential future collectors.


In addition to your physical gallery, you participated in MAD About Jewelry and traveled to Munich Jewellery Week last year. Did participating in such events help the visibility of a gallery? What are your comments? 
I attend many shows throughout the year, but I attended Munich Jewelry Week with my Gallery Manager, Meg, last year and we will definitely return in years to come. Similarly, I went to MAD About Jewelry with my Assistant Manager, Jillian, and feel as though this is very important for them to see different styles, materials, and approaches to jewelry. It informs what we do and how we think about things in our own gallery. For me, attending such events are beneficial in several ways: as mentioned, we find new artists to represent, but furthermore, it allows for Pistachios to stay engaged in the larger jewelry community and understand buyer’s needs and desires.


Pistachios Contemporary Art Jewelry gallery manager Meg Nash.



You seem to have a large collection and work with a lot of artists. How do you manage the artist-gallerist relationship? 
Managing the large volume of artists that we represent is not always easy, but it’s worth it and I’m dedicated to making sure each artist feels seen and heard. I’m in direct contact with each artist, usually via email, and we work closely to put together collections that suit our audience. I also give our artists my direct phone number and make it known that I’m only a phone call away.

For our international artists, there are times when I will work in the early hours of the morning to accommodate them in their time zone. Truly, my goal is for each artist to feel great about the work they send to us. If the artists feel confident about their work, that translates to sales, with profits that go directly back to them.


Is there a specific scenography or curatorial choice regarding temporary exhibitions?
Our exhibition wall changes roughly every two to three months, so we are always keeping things fresh and exciting. I try to take into consideration the concept behind the exhibition and let that inform how I go about displaying the work. My team and I have played around with painting the exhibition wall various colors and/or switching up the vinyl. But generally speaking, for each exhibition, there will be a theme or concept that is decided upon based on the time of year, and then we look at different artists’ work together and see what fits. I always get input from my team because it is so important that they are just as excited about the work as I am. 


Pistachios Contemporary Art Jewelry assistant manager Jillian



The Wearing Red exhibition, curated by Charon Kransen, is hosted by your gallery for two months after being shown in New York and Santa Fe. How did this collaboration come about? Can you tell us about your relationship with other galleries? How do you think a good practice for collaboration between galleries would look?
I’ve known Charon Kransen for quite some time now. He had approached me about hosting the exhibition and when we saw each other during Munich Jewelry Week the idea materialized from there. I love my gallerist colleagues and try to foster relationships of collaboration, rather than competition. We’ve worked on several traveling exhibitions and have collaborated with other curators and we’ve always found that to be a really exciting time. Since we are the last gallery to display Wearing Red: Ignite the Fire, we are honestly benefitting from all the hard work that Patina and Ombré have put in to make it a successful traveling exhibition. And because of this we are incredibly grateful. 


What are the highlights planned for Pistachios Gallery next year?
Pistachios has big things in the works for 2025! We are collaborating with Precious Collective to host a juried exhibition that will be in Chicago from August to November before it moves to Munich Jewelry Week in 2026. This is the first time Pistachios has had an open call for an exhibition, so it’s a pretty big deal for us. And we’re thrilled to collaborate with Precious Collective. They’re lovely, knowledgeable people that are passionate about art jewelry. But on top of that, we have several exciting rotating exhibitions, Trunk Shows, and other events that we host for our neighborhood and local community.