TRANSYLVANIA JEWELRY FESTIVAL

First Edition

7–19 Oct. 2025

The first edition of the Transylvania Jewelry Festival marked the emergence of a new platform dedicated to contemporary jewelry, positioning itself within an expanding international network of artistic exchange and interdisciplinary practices.

The festival brought together 78 artists from 24 countries, presenting over 320 contemporary jewelry pieces that explored the relationship between form, materiality, narrative, and emotion. The selection reflected a wide spectrum of artistic approaches, ranging from conceptual and research-based practices to material-driven experimentation and wearable objects situated at the intersection of art and design.

Format

Conceived as a decentralized festival, Transylvania Jewelry Festival unfolded across multiple locations in Cluj-Napoca, activating galleries, cultural institutions, and alternative spaces throughout the city.

This distributed format enabled a dynamic interaction between artworks, context, and audience, extending the experience of contemporary jewelry beyond the conventional exhibition framework.

Exhibitions

The festival program included five international group exhibitions and two solo exhibitions, hosted by Galeria Parter, Galeria Subsol, the Franciscan Church, the Firefighters’ Tower, and Moritz Eis. Each venue contributed a distinct spatial and conceptual layer, shaping diverse modes of encounter with contemporary jewelry.

SPECIAL GUESTS

The first edition featured Philip Sajet, Milton Stavrou, and Steffi Götze as special guests, whose practices reflect distinct yet complementary positions within the field. Their presence generated a dialogue between established and emerging voices, between formal refinement, conceptual experimentation, and introspective,
research-driven approaches.

Through their work, the festival emphasized jewelry as a complex artistic medium, capable of addressing identity, temporality, and the body as a site of meaning.

DISCOURSE

The discursive dimension of the festival was articulated through conferences and public talks, including The Battle for Beauty by Philip Sajet, which offered a critical reflection on the evolving notion of beauty within contemporary jewelry. The presentation examined the tension between aesthetics, material exploration, and personal expression, framing artistic practice as an ongoing process of negotiation and transformation.

EDUCATION

The educational component was equally central, with workshops focusing on material processes and display strategies, developed in collaboration with the LUPU School of Contemporary Jewelry and the University of Architecture and Urban Planning in Cluj-Napoca. These formats functioned as open platforms for knowledge exchange, bringing together artists, students, and emerging practitioners in a shared space of experimentation.

The program also included a workshop for children led by Tatiana Alban, introducing younger audiences to contemporary jewelry through hands-on exploration and creative engagement

COMMUNITY & CONNECTION

The festival expanded through special events, screenings, and networking sessions, extending the dialogue on contemporary jewelry into interdisciplinary and social contexts. Highlights included the NUMMA silver spoon exhibition, reflecting on utility and symbolism, and the bridal jewelry event at Atelier Oana Lupaș, exploring object, ritual, and personal narrative. A screening of Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict at Cinema ARTA offered insight into collecting and personal vision in art history.

The program also featured the AUTOR Cluj contemporary jewelry fair, fostering direct interaction between artists and the public.

Through its first edition, Transylvania Jewelry Festival established a framework for dialogue, experimentation, and international collaboration, contributing to the consolidation of contemporary jewelry as an autonomous artistic discipline within the Romanian and international cultural landscape.

We warmly thank all the participating artists for being part of this journey

Agapurni · Akane HAYASHI · Alexandra Elena UNGUREANU · Alexandra MUREȘAN · Alexandru LUPU · Alina CONSTANTINESCU · Alys Rocks by Alice STOICESCU · Amina BADYLBAYEVA · Andra LUPU · Agnieszka NAWROCKA · Biron by Stelian GAGIU · Bizar Concept by Simona Girbou · Caroline SOLDEVILA · Catalina SCOTNITCHI · Clara MORANTA · Clotilde WUTHRICH · Cristina RUS · Csiki SZIDONIA · Daniela CĂȚOI · Diana TIPOIA · Elena CRIȘAN · Elena PROTOPOPESCU · Elis LIIVO · Emese ZENTAI · Eunj SHIN · Horia CÂLȚEA · Ioana CLOȘCA · Itsuko KAWASUMI · Iuliana ASOLTANEI · Izabella PETRUȚ · Jannette KNIGGE · Jasmin ZEHAVI · Julia BOIX · Kristin ELM · Lena IHRINGER · Letitia PINTILIE · Liliam HIGA · Loredana MATEIUC · Lynne SPEAKE · Maria BERDILA · Martina EGE · Milton STAVROU · Monom by Georgiana CICEO · Musi Design by Alexandrina REMESCU SIMO · Muzal byn Csató ADÉL-ÉVA · Nadia POLICARPOVA · Nikoletta EFSTATHIOU · Odile YU · Oriana ASLOVICI · Patricia HARSANY · Paula CASTRO · Pei-Han WU · Raluca BUZURA · Rtia MARTINEZ · Sanja MIHOVILOVIC · Sara DOMENECH · Șimon GEORGE · Sunho JUNG · Sylvie GODEL · Tatiana ALBAN · Teocelain by Teodora DRAGOS · Teodor SIMINIC · Veronica ANGHELESCU · Yajie HU · Zulunatic by Ana Maria CRISTEA · LUN by Blinda MANUELA