Founded in 2024 by Josefine Spjeldnæs, Salotto SPJ is a platform dedicated to showcasing the work of independent jewellers and artists in a non-commercial context. The first series of solo exhibitions will launch on 22 January and continue throughout the spring. The line-up includes artists such as Giovanni Corvaja, Joy BC, Charlotte de Syllas, Chloé Valorso, and Yeena Yoon. Each exhibition will run for one week, presenting the artists’ works in the exclusive and intimate setting of a private apartment in Milan.
The curatorial style and atmosphere of the exhibitions are inspired by the art salons of the past, offering visitors an elevated and reflective experience. Josefine Spjeldnæs explains: ‘SALOTTO SPJ seeks to enquire into the purpose and meaning communicated by and through jewellery, ultimately transforming these artworks – when worn – into testimonials, becoming essential expressions of our cultural legacy and personal history.’
Giovanni Corvaja
Opening January 22
Renowned master goldsmith Giovanni Corvaja’s work is represented in museums and collections globally, celebrated widely for his magical ability to spin gold into the thinness equivalent to 1/100th of a hair strand. This alchemic process results in a soft, almost transparent fineness of gold which is otherwise impossible to achieve – the exemplary pendant from his Golden Fleece collection comprises over 1 million fine gold threads. With forms and creative practice inspired by mythology, the ethereal quality of this gold ‘fur’ results in an impression of divinity – as though imagined by godly forces, or an earthly embodiment of other-worldly creatures. Each piece requires thousands of hours of precise labour and hundreds of kilometres of gold wire.
The artistic, formal and technical mastery required to achieve his signature gold thread has seen Giovanni transcend the title of jeweller, dedicating years to his unparalleled obsession with this specialism. Through these secretive and intense processes, he imbues his wearable artworks with the uniquely ancient power and symbology of gold.
‘Gold is my obsession, it is a symbol of evolution and perfection, it expresses the best virtue of nature and the creation. It is therefore a necessity for me to work with it, to acquire the maximum possible knowledge of it.’
UPCOMING
JOY BC
Opening February 19
Joy’s work pays homage to, while deconstructing, classical representations of femininity and beauty. Having extensively studied metalworking under master craftspeople, she focuses on hand-carved noble metals and bronze, accented with precious gemstones and diamonds.
Her approach reimagines these materials as teardrops, lover’s eyes, or brilliant accents. Drawing inspiration from the art of ancient Rome and Greece, Joy challenges viewers and wearers to engage with notions of classical beauty derived from these revered sculptures. They embody timeless personal, social, and political narratives: metamorphic bodies, decaying beauty, the romanticisation of Western culture, creation, and ruin.
Charlotte De Syllas
Opening March 19
Artist and master gem carver Charlotte de Syllas has cultivated a lifelong relationship with the art of gemstone carving. With the distinction of being a jewellery artist since 1966, de Syllas’ experience has earned her an unmatched reputation for bringing gem material to fully realised, three-dimensional life.
Depictions of fauna and flora in de Syllas’ work reflect the underlying presence of her chief muses: the eternal elemental forces of water, fire, air, and earth. She balances these universal inspirations with a spiritual and visceral understanding of precious gemstones, allowing the material to speak to her and guide her creative process towards the manifestation of its eventual form.
Chloé Valorso
Opening April 9
Chloé Valorso graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2016 and went on to study her masters in Sculpture, Jewellery & Metal at the Royal College of Art. Her work is rooted in rituals, magic, spirituality, and mythology, imbued with mystical intentions and based in ancient principles of alchemy, and has been shown at major fairs like Collect, the Jewellery Biennial and Munich Jewellery Week.
Using jewellery as a shamanic language, Valorso creates innovative interpretations of mythology. While collaging materials she also combines ancient symbols with glyphs and themes from digital culture. She consciously sources her materials, including recycled metals, the highest quality of plating, upcycled and locally sourced stones and lab grown gems.
Yeena Yoon
Opening 21 May
Before becoming a jeweller, Yeena Yoon worked as an architect for Zaha Hadid and other award-winning practices. She has since developed a passion for combining fine gold wirework with gemstone lapidary, creating jewellery that redefines the relationship between precious materials and the body. Drawing inspiration from her architectural background, Yoon’s designs explore spatial compositions through chiaroscuro, symmetry, and material expression. Her work emphasizes aesthetic balance and innovative use of materials.
Her craft often embodies the concept of hidden treasure, creating transformable jewellery that can be disassembled into individual interchangeable pieces or seamlessly nested into sculptural forms, showcasing her intricate technique and vision.
Opening Hours (by appointment only):
January 22: 4 PM – 8 PM
January 23 and 24: 10 AM – 6 PM
January 25: 10 AM – 12 PM
Meet the artist during these times.
For appointments and information:
