Thumbs-Up for ‘Hands On’ Jewelry Exhibit at Salon Art + Design

By Amy Elliott | November 02, 2023

A curated exhibition highlighting the work of contemporary jewelers will be presented by the Hudson, N.Y.–based Elevated Matter Gallery at next week’s Salon Art + Design fair in New York City.

Titled “Hands On,” the exhibition will showcase the work of designers Chris Davies, Stella Flame, Elizabeth Garvin, Anthony Lent, and Andy Lif—all studio jewelers who “are committed to discovery and moving creativity forward [and] have gone beyond commercial techniques and conventions, revealing fresh ideas and approaches,” says Davies, who is also the founder of Elevated Matter.

This is the gallery’s first year participating in Salon Art + Design, which will be held Nov. 9–13 at Manhattan’s Park Avenue Armory. The name “Hands On” refers to the mechanics of the designers’ creative process in the studio and to the idea that “in a world where technology, outsourcing, and commodity-based thinking becomes more status quo in the jewelry market, the preciousness of the human hand is more relevant than ever,” Davies says. “This is the spirit and message we want to share.”

Elevated Matter’s Salon Art + Design debut marks the first time it has staged an exhibition beyond its home base. “After two wonderful years in Hudson receiving collectors from NYC and around the world, the next logical step was to take the ‘show on the road,’ as it were,” says Davies. “We felt that Salon Art + Design was the perfect show for us. Having an exhibition program at the intersection of art and design, we are excited to develop a presence here, as well as other shows that reflect our commitment to contemporary art and design.”

Most of the “Hands On” designers “have invested decades developing their own hands and specialized techniques while training artisans to work alongside them,” says Davies. All the jewelers represented in the exhibition will be present at the fair. “It is very unusual for a gallery to have the full array of artists present for the duration of a show,” he says.

Below (and above), we preview some of the jewelry that will be featured in Elevated Matter’s booth at Salon Art + Design. These images might be enough to entice you to seen them in person, but if you need another reason:

“The distillation of experience and vision in each of these jewels has been researched and honed over a lifetime, and in many cases will never be repeated,” explains Davies. “That is part of what earmarks a jewel as collectible. Over time, design will always have a higher value than the materials. We know this experience will provide collectors with a unique kind of access to the creative vision in the works. Jewelry tells a story, and who better to tell it than the artist?”