Spot the Designer - Francesca Pennesi/ Italy

What did you want to be when you were a child?

Since I was a child, my biggest dream was to become a stylist so that I could create unique jewels and clothes for people.

When have you started creating jewelry? How did this passion come about?

I started making jewelry when I was pregnant with my child about four years ago. At that moment I felt the need to give shape to the many emotions I felt, giving them a shape and playing with different materials.

What was your first project or significant piece for you and from what point of view?

My first significant project was to express the feeling of separation with the work composed of two brooches entitled „The sacredness of abandonment”; the work develops in a migration of puzzles coming from a round, maternal and from this distancing they leave an imprint from which light can enter.

How do you charge your batteries? What other passions and creative interests do you have?

I love to recharge my personal energy by cooking, documenting myself above all on things I do not know, practising Kundalini yoga and meditation.

What does the connection between manufacturing tradition and contemporary design mean to you?

I believe that like every human being we need roots, so contemporary art needs also a solid technical base to develop.

Is there a self-portrait piece that speaks most about you?

Yes, „The shape of a dream”. This work represents how I perceive my soul: a center from which threads with transparent concentric circles start, which create a movement tending towards infinity. It precisely represents the limitless possibilities we have in our life.

Which material have you not yet used is a temptation and a challenge for you?

I would like to work titanium.

How was the pandemic period for you as a jewelry designer?

It was a very introspective period for me in which I had to find the best way to deal with the economic and social void, and I believe that the creativity in this has helped me to find alternative solutions to the problem.

How do you see the future of contemporary jewelry?

I imagine continuing to exhibit in international galleries, winning some awards and teaching contemporary jewelry techniques.

Find more about the designer Francesca Pennesi