Jewelry artists from Israel, Italy, Amsterdam, and Argentina will bring their latest wearable works of art to The Studio at Mizner Park for the 12th Annual Bijoux! Contemporary Jewelry Exhibition from Jan. 13 to 17.
The event was founded by Donna Schneier, a renowned art consultant and jewelry collector who co-founded the prestigious LOOT show (now MAD About Jewelry) at New York City’s Museum of Arts & Design.
Bijoux! came to Boca Raton through resident Andrea Kline — a metal artist and art jewelry collector — who organized the 2022 edition at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, where the celebrity artist was Iris Apfel.
“Bijoux! is not just about jewelry — it’s about culture, craftsmanship, and connection,” says Kline, who serves on the board of The Studio. “Bringing it back to Boca feels like a creative homecoming, and I’m thrilled to help reintroduce it to a new generation of collectors and art lovers.”
Kline began collecting jewelry as a teen using her babysitting money, and when approached to chair the event, she jumped at the opportunity. “It’s right up my alley,” she says.
Some of her favorite collectibles are vintage Robert Lee Morris pieces and a vintage Elsa Peretti necklace designed before her tenure with Tiffany.
This year’s exhibition continues that spirit of discovery, showcasing more than 30 artists from around the world, including featured artists Bruce Metcalf and Jennifer Merchant, a Minneapolis-based jewelry artist known for her bold acrylic pieces and vibrant art prints.
Metcalf, a Philadelphia-based studio jewelry artist, has works in major public collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Working with wood, metal, Plexiglass, and a range of techniques, he contrasts the familiar with the unexpected to create whimsical yet restrained pieces that comment on the human condition.
“I’m all about pushing the envelope,” he says. “I make jewelry that doesn’t look like jewelry. It’s intended to be different than anything you’ve seen before.”
His designs draw attention to the wearer and engage people in conversation.
“I want everyone’s heads to turn,” he says. “If you wear a piece of my jewelry, you have to rise to the occasion.”
For Bijoux!, Metcalf will be bringing a selection of his brooches and bracelets, ranging from $600 to $5,000, many designed to be worn by both women and men.
Elements of his work include flowers, seeds and phallic symbols. “All jewelry is erotic; there’s a sexual element to it,” Metcalf says.
And while much of it is subconscious, he adds, “I try to bring that subtext to light.”
While Metcalf pushes the boundaries of form and symbolism, fellow featured artist Merchant explores a different kind of innovation — one rooted in color, transparency and optical play.
As a child, Merchant collected plastic jewelry bracelets from the toy aisle, stacking as many as possible on her wrists. Seeing jewelry as more than a fashion accessory, she believes it allows us to express different facets of our personalities — resulting in playful, bold, dimensional pieces.
Merchant transitioned from silver and gold to acrylic. Inspired by art books and fashion magazines, she developed a unique layered acrylic technique, transforming simple pages into wearable art.
She explores transparency, refraction, and magnification to create graphic illusions that change as they move, drawing inspiration from faceted geometric forms, pop art, fashion, op art, and Art Deco. In a labor-intensive process, she layers acrylic with images and metal foil, then sculpts each piece by hand into a multi-dimensional work of wearable art.
She works slowly and intentionally, letting the materials speak to her and show her what they’re going to be.
“If you can’t see it from 10 feet away, why bother?” Merchant says.
Other artists include Chilean designer Pamela Borquez; Dutch designer Annemeike Broenink, known for her innovative use of rubber; Brooklyn-based glass and metal artist Jane D’Arensbourg; and Japanese-born, UK-based designer Kayo Saito, whose delicate sculptural pieces are inspired by nature.
Here is the schedule for Bijoux! events:
• January 13 | 6–8:30 pm – The week kicks off with an invitation-only Bubbles, Bangles & Beads, a VIP preview and opening night celebration featuring champagne, caviar and live music.
• January 14 | 11 am–7 pm – Bijoux! opens to the public. Admission is $10 per person, per day, and $20 per person for a multi-day pass.
• January 15–17 | 10 am–6 pm daily – Public exhibition hours continue, alongside a variety of curated experiences.
• The front lounge area will be transformed into an elegant Afternoon Tea Lounge, open daily during Bijoux! for refreshments. Admission to high tea and artist talks are $25 per event.
If you go:
What: Bijoux! Contemporary Jewelry Exhibition & Sale
Where: The Studio at Mizner Park, 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton
When: Open Jan. 14-17; VIP preview Jan. 13
Cost: $10 per person, per day, and $20 per person for a multi-day pass