Open to the public from April 4 through 8, the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) will hold their annual exhibition and sale of contemporary art jewelry now in its 17th edition,
LOOT presents a cross-section of the most exciting cutting-edge art jewelry designs, while offering the public a rare opportunity to meet and acquire pieces directly from some of the most skilled creators in the field – most of whom have never before shown work in the United States.
“This annual five-day pop-up store is a one-of-a-kind event,” said Marsy Mittlemann, the 2017 LOOT Chairman. “I am thrilled to introduce these fifty-four emerging contemporary jewelry artists to the New York City community. The opportunity to buy these unique pieces of jewelry, and to meet the artists while supporting the Museum and its mission, is very meaningful to me.”
Each year, collectors and jewelry enthusiasts flock to MAD’s LOOT event to learn about jewelers’ processes, materials, and concepts, and to purchase works directly from their makers. With all of the designers present on site throughout the exhibition and sale, LOOT is one of New York’s most unique museum experiences. Proceeds benefit MAD’s exhibition and education programs.
This year’s edition welcomes 54 artists from 21 countries, the majority of whom have never been shown in New York. For the first time, LOOT will feature three artists from Iceland and one from Romania. There will also be artists from Argentina (1), Australia (1), Austria (1), Belgium (1), Canada (1), Denmark (3), Finland (2), France (5), Germany (4), Greece (2), Holland (1), Israel (1), Italy (5), Korea (2), Norway (1), Portugal (1), Spain (2), United Kingdom (10), and United States (6).
“Each year, I seek to present materials that even I have not seen in my decades of work in the field of jewelry,” said LOOT curator Bryna Pomp. “The 2017 presentation includes driftwood, neoprene, marble, sheer plywood, textiles, ceramic, aluminum, beading, and acrylic. A significant trend this year is the use of recycled materials, including china tableware, plastic bottles and shopping bags, and even skateboards.”