Gian Luca Bartellone
I am sure most people find it hard to speak about their own work, especially when it’s so closely tied to their emotions, feelings and experience. The jewelry I create is a product of long years spent as a traditional jeweler, decorator and painter.
Each piece is unique, as is the spark that inspired it: a splash of colour, a half-glimpsed fleeting shape, or a combination of the two. Ideas then materialize and find their final form on paper. On my quest for ideal work materials I settled for paper, gold wire and gems, opting for the lightness and malleability of paper rather than the hardness and rigidity of metal. To me, my art is a harmonious fusion of the experience I have gathered over the years and a constant search for new combinations and arrangements.
CV
- 1977 Education: graduates as “Maestro d’Arte” at the “Benvenuto Cellini” institute in Valenza (I)
- 1961 born in Velezzo Lomellina (Italy)
Acquisitions
- 2012 Necklace „Kardia“ and bracelet „Pelagos“ by the Grassi Museum of applied Arts, Leipzig (D)
Awards
- 2015 winner of the Alatyr 2015 Innovation Award, Biennial of Amber Art in Amber Museum, Kaliningrad (Ru)
- 2012 winner of the Grassipreis, Grassi Museum of applied Arts, Leipzig (D)
- 1988 winner of the Diamonds International Award, De Beers, Paris (F)
Leipzig 2012 Renate Slavik awarded Gian Luca Bartellone with the Grassipreis
Workshops/Lessions
- 08/2020 Workshop on design and creation of alternative jewelry, organized by Babel, Bolzano (I)
- 1992-99 lecturer of Illustration and Design classes held by the Valenza jewellers’ association
Publications
- 03/2023 „The Object“ – Selection from the Grassi Museum collection in the SM*CK Magazine. Issue #08, Hamburg/Athens (D/GR)
- 11/2021 Interview „Jewelry Dialogues“ in the SM*CK Magazine. Issue #05, Hamburg/Athens (D/GR)
- 10/2019 “Bodyfurnitures 2019” catalog, current works of art by Gian Luca Bartellone
- 11/2018 Editorial contribution about the group exhibition “Italiano plurale – Vie personali” (Wien) in the Dolomiten, Bolzano (I)
- 08/2018 Interview „An irresistible artistic challenge“ in the SWZ – Südtiroler Wirtschaftszeitung, Bolzano (I)
- 07/2018 Online interview „Besides being a fulfilling process in itself, drawing for me becomes a working tool“ in the portal for contemporary jewelry Klimt02.net
- 01/2018 Cover design in 3D pop-up style for the KVW Bildung education brochure „Kurse im Frühling 2018“, South Tyrol (I)
- 10/2017 “Bodyfurnitures 2017” catalog, current works of art by Gian Luca Bartellone
- 08/2017 Publication of a collage from jewerly sketches for the KVW Bildung education brochure „Kurse im Herbst 2017“, South Tyrol (I)
- 06/2016 Bodyfurnitures featured in “25 Jahre schenken und fördern”, exhibition book of the Grassi Museum of applied Arts, Leipzig (D)
- 10/2015 “Bodyfurnitures 2015” catalog, current works of art by Gian Luca Bartellone
- 07/2015 Media coverage about the Alatyr Innovation Award, including Neue Tageszeitung, Dolomiten, ff – Südtiroler Wochenmagazin
- 02/2015 Bodyfurnitures featured in the Artistar Annual 2015, International Annual of Contemporary Jewel Art by Fausto Lupetti Editore (i)
- 05/2013 Artist profile featured in the British Vogue (uk)
- 11/2012 Bodyfurnitures featured in the Jewelbook 12/13, International Annual of Contemporary Jewel Art by Stichting Kunstboek (NL)
- 11/2012 Bodyfurnitures featured in the local weekly magazine ff-extra “luxury”
- 11/2012 Media coverage about the Grassipreis Award, including Art Aurea, Schmuckmagazin, Sentire, Dolomiten, Neue Tageszeitung
- 02/2011 Bodyfurnitures featured in the art magazine aperitivo illustrato
- 01/2011 Bodyfurnitures featured in the national newspaper Corriere della Sera
- 10/2009 Bodyfurnitures featured in the fashion and culture magazine cool_schrank
- 06/2008 Bodyfurnitures featured in the magazine ornamenta cult
- 02/2008 Bodyfurnitures featured in the life-style magazine IN Südtirol
- 2003-05 Extensive media coverage in donna moderna, marie claire, chi, plus magazine, elle, vanity fair, street wear in coll. with Terzo Millennio gallery, Milan (I)
- 2001 Bodyfurnitures featured in the local weekly magazine ff-extra
- 1997 Interior design featured in local weekly magazine ff – Südtiroler Wochenmagazin
- 1988 Media coverage about the “Diamonds International Award” including sette, national newspaper Corriere della Sera
Jewel Book 12/13 International Annual of Contemporary Jewel Art
Exhibitions
- 05/2023 “Friedrich Becker Price” – exhibition of selected pieces of jewellery – at the Gesellschaft für Goldschmiedekunst, Hanau (D)
- 04/2023 „Gioiello Contemporaneo Contest“ at Rossini gallery, Milan (I)
- 03/2023 “Bijoux 2023” at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, Florida (USA)
- 10/2021 “Hypnotic Jewelry” solo-exhibition at Tonhaus, Bolzano (I)
- 10/2020 “Alternative Options” – Pop-up Gallery Exhibition organized by the NoCC (New Center of Contemporary Jewellery and Fashion Culture)
and the Tongji University, College of Design and Innovation – at the The Bund Finance Center, Shanghai (china) - 10/2020 “A bridge between materials” at the Am Pfarrplatz Nr. 9 gallery, Merano (I)
- 12/2018 “Snowing a little out the window” at the Putti gallery, Riga (lv)
- 11/2018 “Italiano plurale – Vie personali” at the Der grosse Bär gallery during Vienna Jewellery Days, Vienna (a)
- 04/2018 “Loot 2018” at the MAD Museum of Art and Design, New York (USA)
- 06/2017 “Alatyr 2017” at the Amber Museum, Kaliningrad (Ru)
- 06/2017 “Sommer Edition” at the Gut Geissel gallery, Langenberg (d)
- 05/2017 “25 years of Galerie Orfèo” at the Orfèo gallery, Luxembourg (l)
- 03/2017 “aad alpen adria donau” at the P13 Carl Weishaupt gallery during Munich Jewellery Week, Munich (d)
- 03/2017 “Bijoux 2017” at the Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, Florida (USA)
- 04/2016 “Loot 2016” at the MAD Museum of Art and Design, New York (USA)
- 06/2015 “Alatyr 2015” at the Amber Museum, Kaliningrad (Ru)
- 06/2015 “Sommer Edition” at the Gut Geissel gallery, Langenberg (d)
- 12/2014 “8x faszination” at the University of design, Bolzano (I)
- 07/2014 “Friedrich Becker Price” – exhibition of selected pieces of jewellery – at the Gesellschaft für Goldschmiedekunst, Hanau (d)
- 08/2013 “Gut Geissel Opening” at the Gut Geissel gallery, Langenberg (d)
- 08/2013 “Nocturnum IV – Nord trifft Süd” at the Schmuckwerkstatt Konrad Laimer, Naturno (i)
- 02/2013 “Schmuckkunst und Papagenoart” at the Slavik gallery, Vienna (A)
- 12/2012 “8x faszination” at the University of design, Bolzano (I)
- 12/2012 “Piedàterre”. Solo-exhibition and presentation of the new Bodyfurnitures shoe jewellery collection at Brand33, Milan (I)
- 11/2011 “Storie di Carta”, solo-exhibition at the mies gallery, Modena (i)
- 11/2010 “Designers Date II” at Villa Ammonit, Berlin (D)
- 04/2010 “Summer Collection” at sdcgallery, London (uk)
- 11/2009 “Designers Date” at Villa Ammonit, Berlin (D)
- 04/2009 “Poesie der Schmuckkunst” at the Slavik gallery, Vienna (A)
- 03/2009 “Indossare l’arte” at the Il ponte gallery, Bassano del Grappa (I)
- 11/2008 “Les artistes de la galerie” at the Orfèo gallery, Luxembourg (l)
- 04/2008 “Magic of jewellery art” at the Slavik gallery, Vienna (A)
- 03/2008 “Cartiera”, solo-exhibition at Brand33, Milan (I)
- 04/2001 “I quattro elementi” – sculpted bracelets at Café Maschin, Bolzano (I)
Langenberg 2013, Ostfalen Very popular exhibition at Gut Geissel Gallery with the italian Jeweler Gian Luca Bartellone
Fairs
- 07/2022 Handwerk & Design, International Crafts Fair, Munich (D), with the collective “Italiano Plurale”
- 10/2021 Grassimesse, Grassi Museum of applied Arts, Leipzig (D), with the collective “Italiano Plurale” (Guest Country Italy)
- 09/2021 Feinwerk, Market for genuine things, Schloss Fasanerie, Eichenzell/Fulda (D)
- 10/2020 Grassimesse, Grassi Museum of applied Arts, Leipzig (D)
- 11/2019 Salon Resonance[s], Strasbourg (f), as group “Italiano plurale”
- 10/2017 Grassimesse, Grassi Museum of applied Arts, Leipzig (D)
- 05/2015 Eunique, Applied Arts & Design, Karlsruhe (D)
- 03/2014 Arredo, Bolzano (I), in collaboration with University of Bolzano (Design)
- 11/2013 Sieraad Art Fair, Amsterdam (NL)
- 10/2013 Grassimesse, Grassi Museum of applied Arts, Leipzig (D)
- 10/2012 Grassimesse, Grassi Museum of applied Arts, Leipzig (D)
- 11/2008 Blickfang, Zurich (ch), in collaboration with Schmuckforum gallery
- 11/2007 Blickfang, Zurich (ch), in collaboration with Schmuckforum gallery
Amsterdam 2013 Selfpaintet frames in baroque style accentuate every single piece of the unique jewelry at Sieraad Art Fair
Work experience / Workshops and lectures
- 08/2020 Workshop on design and creation of alternative jewelry, organized by Babel, Bolzano (I)
- since 2000 launches the Bodyfurnitures project – Bartellone’s own jewelry collection of papier-mâché, gold, silver, gold leaf and precious stones
- 1992-99 lecturer of Illustration and Design classes held by the Valenza jewellers’ association
- since 1992 creates interior designs, trompe l’oeil, stencil decorations and portraits in collaboration and as freelancer
- 1990-91 jewelry designer for Asia in Mede Lomellina (I)
- 1979-90 goldsmith and jewelry collection designer for ORM/Giollaro in Mede Lomellina (I)
Borgo Priolo 2002, Italy Two painted blu parrods stay behind a real golden frame. This trompe l’oeil painting technique combines real and painted shadows for perfect optical illusion. Ask for the whole album of Gian Luca Bartellone.
