JURY OF ROMANIAN JEWELRY WEEK 2024
David Sandu - Curator and Founder of Romanian Jewelry Week
David Sandu began to discover the secrets of jewellery making at the age of 13, under the guidance of the sculptor and jeweller Vlad Gherghiceanu. He is one of the first contemporary jewellery artists in Romania, and he has participated in international projects and exhibitions and has won significant awards. In 2010, David founded the Assamblage School of Contemporary Jewellery and The National Contemporary Jewellery Association, playing a major role in the formation of a new generation of artists and designers. In 2020, he became a founding member and curator of the international event Romania Jewelry Week.
Byron Vafeiadis - Curator of Education and Collections at Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum
The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum (ILJM) is the first museum in Greece devoted to the art of jewelry. Since 1994, the Museum acts as an international center for jewelry and decorative crafts with an extensive educational program. The permanent collection covers the life work of Ilias Lalaounis, studio jewelry and selected decorative arts. The Lalaounis legacy is presented with the display of 50 collections designed and supervised by Ilias Lalaounis between 1957 and 2002, his archive including the library, tools, and maquettes. The 4.500 displays are selected to give an overview that Lalaounis presented in exhibitions worldwide.
Byron Vafeiadis, Curator for ILJM’s Collections and Educational Programs. He holds a B.A. in Museology, Museography and Exhibition Design and an M.A. in Applied – Clinical Sociology and Arts.
Justyna Teodorczyk - Director Of The Gallery Of Art In Legnica, Poland
Justyna Teodorczyk, PhD – curator, educator, culture animator, author of texts about contemporary art. Since 2019 director, formerly employee of the Gallery of Art in Legnica (Poland) – an institution which for over 40 years has been organising the Legnica Jewellery Festival SILVER - one of the oldest and most important reviews of unique author’s jewellery in Europe. Curator of many goldsmith exhibitions organized in frame of the Festival. She initiated a project which resulted in the creation of the website Biżuteria Artystyczna w Polsce (Artistic Jewellery in Poland). Obtained Master’s degree in cultural studies (2003) and PhD in humanities in the field of culture studies (2012) at the Wroclaw University, Poland. Apart from goldsmithing, she is involved in exhibitions of contemporary art by Polish artists and educational projects. Researcher and author of studies on rock music and culture.
Charon Kransen - Charon Kransen Arts, New York
Charon Kransen ( Holland 1950 ) has worked in the field of contemporary jewelry since 1969; as a jeweler trained at the Bezalel Academy of Fine Arts Jerusalem Israel, Hochschule fuer Gestaltung Pforzheim Germany and at Juhls Kautokeino Norway, as professor of jewelry ( and enamel) design at the Hogeschool der Kunsten Utrecht Holland, as president of the VES ( Dutch Jewelry Designers Organization) and as a lecturer at universities, colleges and art organizations all over the world, curator,art-dealer and agent of about 150 international contemporary jewelers in North-America. For the past 25 years he has shown the work of these artists at art fairs in the USA and at various curated exhibitions in galleries and museums. He has been a juror for Talente Munich, Athens Jewelry Week, Joya Barcelona, Gioielli in Fermento Italy for many years as well as other competitions/exhibitions related to contemporary jewelry. Since 1999 his masterclasses to students and professionals continue all over the world. Since 1988 Charon Kransen resides in New York City.
ASSAMBLAGE SCHOOL Special Award
Andreia Gabriela Popescu is a teacher, designer and jewelry manufacturer who creates unique and sophisticated contemporary pieces since 2010, having multiple award-winning collections at prestigious international jewelry exhibitions and competitions. Since 2010, she has become a valued lecturer of the Assamblage School of Contemporary Jewelry, specializing in contemporary jewelry. She will designate the special Assamblage School Award at Romanian Jewelry Week.
Assamblage Contemporary Jewelry School was founded in 2010 at the initiative of designer David Sandu, as the first educational platform in Romania dedicated exclusively to the field of contemporary jewelry.
Irina Probst, Exhibition Manager at INHORGENTA MUNICH
Irina oversees the Contemporary Jewelry Design section at INHORGENTA MUNICH, recognized as Europe's leading platform for jewelry, watches, and gemstones. This section serves as a vital forum for showcasing innovative designs and trends, providing a launchpad for both emerging and established jewelry designers and artists.
Spread over six halls at Messe München, exhibitors from across the globe present their latest creations at INHORGENTA MUNICH. Through its extensive supporting program, comprising the INHORGENTA AWARD and the TRENDFACTORY, the trade fair offers an in-depth overview of international trends and developments. INHORGENTA is recognized for its inclusivity, particularly in the Contemporary Jewelry Design section, which highlights both emerging and established designers and artists, alongside educational institutions that provide career guidance to the next generation.
The event has evolved significantly over its 50-year history, recently celebrating its anniversary with a modernized approach that attracted a diverse array of exhibitors and visitors from around the world. This dynamic environment fosters networking and collaboration, essential for success in the rapidly changing marketplace of jewelry and gemstones.
Lisa Balasso - D
esign Curator and Founder of Venice Design Week
Lisa Balasso is the founder and coordinator of Venice Design Week, a premier platform for showcasing contemporary design and innovation. As a seasoned curator, she has curated numerous captivating exhibitions that explore the intersection of art and design. In 2002, Balasso established Design33, a dynamic communication agency dedicated to promoting companies and fostering brand awareness. Driven by her passion for design, art and education, Balasso co-founded the vogliadarte association for museum didactics and the Arte e Design Venezia association, fostering collaborative initiatives and promoting cultural engagement.
Venice Design Week is an event that brings together the world of design in the historic city of Venice, Italy. This prestigious platform showcases the latest innovations and trends in contemporary design, from furniture and product design to architecture, digital art and wearable. Each year, Venice Design Week features a curated program of exhibitions, installations, workshops, and talks. These events offer a unique opportunity for designers, artists, and design enthusiasts to connect, learn, and be inspired by the latest developments in the field.
SPECIAL AWARDS
MYDAYBYDAY Gallery in Rome Special Award
Mydaybyday space, is a Gallery in Rome which promotes and sells contemporary jewelry both onsite & online. It offers services of communication & advertising on various social medias.
Lost in Jewelry Magazine Special Award
A new International Art jewellery showcase. 'Lost in Jewellery Magazine' is the official online magazine of Mydaybyday Gallery in Rome, Italy. The magazine goal, is to give International contemporary jewellery Artists & participating Galleries & Other Institutions, a 'SPOTLIGHT', a place where they can make their 'Voices' heard.
Magdalena Vélez Salinas, President and Co-founder of
Association of Contemporary Jewelry and Goldsmithing Designers and organizer of the Exhibition· Contemporary Goldsmithing
Architect by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain), lecturer at the Escuela de Arquitectura of the Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio and Plastic Arts and Artistic Goldsmith and Silversmith Design by the Escuela de Arte 3 in Madrid, she combines professional activities with artistic investigation. Cofounder and President of the Association of Contemporary Jewelry and Goldsmithing Designers (Asociación de Diseñadores de Orfebrería y Joyería Contemporáneas, AdOC), based in Madrid and finalist of the National Craftmanship Award, which organises annually the Exhibition· Contemporary Goldsmithing in several Madrid museums and within the Madrid Design Festival, and at the same time as the Semana de Arte – ARCO, contributing to the city transformation into the global capital of contemporary art.
Revista Atelierul Special Award
Revista Atelierul (Atelierul Magazine) has been establishing since 2010 an international intercultural dialogue between the creators and the public, a well-defined mix of established and beginner product designers and creators, becoming an active platform for networking and inspiration. Atelierul Magazine has an international editorial team, over 9,5 million readers, and offline we are curating creative exhibitions. Atelierul Magazine is a project of the NGO Atelierul de Creaţie, a Romanian non-profit organization that has been supporting for more than 13 years the alternative approaches to presenting design and creative worldwide events.