Museum of Arts and Design Commemorates 25th Edition of MAD About Jewelry
Annual Benefit Exhibition and Sale of Artist-Made Jewelry and Accessories May 3–7, 2025
MAD About Jewelry Celebrates 25 Years of Artistry and Innovation at the Museum of Arts and Design
May 3–7, 2025 | Museum of Arts and Design, New York City
Jewelry works by MAD About Jewelry artists Sebastian Schildt (left), Valeria Molinari (center), Xinyi Chen (top right), and Cano Jewelry (bottom right). Images courtesy of the artists.
The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) proudly presents the 25th anniversary of MAD About Jewelry, its annual benefit exhibition and sale spotlighting one-of-a-kind, artist-made jewelry. Taking place from May 3 to 7, this landmark edition will feature 50 visionary artists from 23 countries, offering an extraordinary selection of wearable art that redefines the boundaries of contemporary jewelry design.
The week-long celebration kicks off with an exclusive Opening Benefit Brunch on Saturday, May 3, honoring Frank Everett, Vice Chairman for Jewelry at Sotheby’s. A respected voice in the luxury world, Everett’s career spans iconic houses including Bulgari, Tiffany & Co., and Harry Winston. He’s also known for his popular video series Frank’s Files, which has captivated jewelry lovers worldwide. Brunch guests will enjoy a first look at the collection before the formal tribute to Everett takes place at Robert, the museum’s restaurant overlooking Columbus Circle.
Proceeds from the event will support MAD’s mission to champion contemporary makers and advance the fields of art, craft, and design.
This year’s roster of artists showcases bold experimentation, cultural storytelling, and sustainable innovation:
Xinyi Chen (UK) transforms electronic waste into “Artificial Intelligems,” merging digital debris with metalsmithing.
Valeria Molinari (Italy) creates Murano glass and resin pieces inspired by the board game backgammon.
Joana Correia (Portugal) embraces nature’s imperfection using organic materials like orange peel and silk cocoons.
Cano Jewelry (Colombia) draws on over a century of tradition, preserving pre-Colombian goldsmithing in modern forms.
Yuka Taniai (Japan) sculpts ethereal designs from acrylic and metal to reflect light, time, and atmospheric elements.
Inca Starzinsky (UK) paints sculptural brass and stainless steel jewelry that bridges graphic design and wearable color.
KINRADEN (Denmark), founded by architect Sarah Emilie Müllertz, crafts sustainable jewelry using recycled gold and FSC-certified blackwood.
Monies (Denmark), celebrating 50 years of design, continues to push the boundaries with bold, raw-material-driven statement pieces.
A highlight of the program is the Acquisition Prize, awarded annually to an artist whose work will be added to MAD’s permanent collection—underscoring the museum’s commitment to preserving groundbreaking design for future generations.
“For 25 years, MAD About Jewelry has been a beacon of creativity, ingenuity, and community,” said Tim Rodgers, MAD’s Nanette L. Laitman Director. “This event not only celebrates exceptional artistry but also supports the Museum’s exhibitions and educational initiatives. We’re deeply grateful to the artists, collectors, and supporters who continue to make this momentous event possible.”
Attendees can shop necklaces, earrings, rings, brooches, and bracelets in a range of materials, from precious metals to recycled and natural elements—each piece offering a distinct cultural perspective. More than just a shopping event, MAD About Jewelry is a rare opportunity to meet the makers and engage directly with the stories behind their work.
MAD remains the only American museum with a dedicated gallery for both temporary and permanent exhibitions of contemporary and studio jewelry, reinforcing its legacy as a leader in the presentation and preservation of jewelry as an art form.
To learn more or purchase tickets, visit madmuseum.org or contact Darci Spasojevich at darci.spasojevich@madmuseum.org.
Celebrate 25 years of MAD About Jewelry—where artistic excellence meets global community.
#MADAboutJewelry2025 | @mad_aboutjewelry
LOOT:MAD About Jewelry 2019
Photos by Jenna Bascom, Annie Watt, BFA
On Monday, April 8th, The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) held their opening benefit cocktail, shopping, and awards dinner evening kicking off their nineteenth edition of LOOT: MAD About Jewelry. This is their annual exhibition and sale of one-of-a-kind contemporary jewelry. Honored with the LOOT Awards were jewelry designer and philanthropist Adria de Haume and jewelry and fashion designer Josie Natori, as well as the presentation of the LOOT Acquisition Prize.
Photos by Jenna Bascom, Annie Watt, BFA
Photos by Jenna Bascom, Annie Watt, BFA
The evening started with a cocktail reception at the MAD exhibit to meet the artists and to also preview and purchase these one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry. Benefit guests received first access to LOOT shopping.
Photos by Jenna Bascom, Annie Watt, BFA
Photos by Jenna Bascom, Annie Watt, BFA
LOOT 2019 features fifty-five artists from eighteen countries and territories: Austria (1), Belgium (1), Chile (2), Finland (1), France (2), Germany (6), Italy (2), Korea (5), Poland (1), Portugal (2), Spain (5), Sweden (1), Taiwan (1), Thailand (1), Turkey (3), the United Kingdom (14), the United States (6), and the US Virgin Islands (1). In addition to a diverse range of artistic practices, the jewelry on display encompasses a wide array of materials, from traditional metals to more unconventional media like leather, glass, porcelain, paper, silicone, resin, textiles, wood, horsehair, recycled skateboards, and ultraviolet-reactive nylon.
Photos by Jenna Bascom, Annie Watt, BFA
Guests attending included, Mickey Ateyeh, Marika and Neil Bender, Young Yang Chung, Audrey Cohen, as well as, MAD chairman Michele Cohen, Isabelle Harnoncourt Feigen, Carole Bailey French and John French III, Joan and George Hornig, Jacqui Lividini, Marsy Mittlemann, Barbara de Portago, Robi Queen, Peter and Barbara Regna, Tom Roush, MAD Director Chris Scoates, Allyson Tang, chair Emeritus Barbara Tober and her husband Donald Tober, Kay Unger, Harriet Weintraub and Lynn Yaeger.
Photos by Jenna Bascom, Annie Watt, BFA
Photos by Jenna Bascom, Annie Watt, BFA
After cocktails guests were escorted upstairs to MAD’s Robert Restaurant for a scrumptious meal of Scottish Salmon and decadent desserts and a short program. New director Chris Scoates welcomes guests and expressed his excitement for his first LOOT. Joan Hornig, herself a former LOOT honoree, graciously introduced her longtime friend and 2019 honoree Adria de Haume. Adria expressed her gratitude in her speech that proclaimed, “Art is the answer to so much that is wrong in the world right now.” Chair Emeritus Barbara Tober took the stage to express her admiration and praise for Josi Natori who answered in a typically short speech, “I am lucky after four decades that I am doing what I love, art.” Marsy Mittlemann announces the winners of the Acquisition Prize, Mariko Kusumoto and Joo Hyung Park. A special thank you went out to sponsor Paolo Costagli who helped make LOOT possible.
PUBLIC EXHIBITION AND SALE HOURS
Tuesday, April 9: 10 am to 6 pm Wednesday, April 10: 10 am to 6 pm Thursday, April 11: 10 am to 9 pm Friday, April 12: 10 am to 6 pm Saturday, April 13: 10 am to 6 pm
Entrance to LOOT is included in the price of Museum admission: $16 general; $14 for seniors; $12 for students; free for MAD members and children under 18 years of age. To purchase tickets online, visit madmuseum.org/visit.
Photos by Jenna Bascom, Annie Watt, BFA