WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.- The Norton Museum of Art hosts Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection, a selection of over 150 pieces of jewelry made by some of the most significant artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, from the collection of Diane Venet. These pieces are being displayed alongside approximately 60 two- and three-dimensional artworks from the Norton’s Collection from April 12, 2025, to October 5, 2025.

This is the first occasion that pieces from Venet’s collection are exhibited alongside companion artworks by many of the same artists. This display establishes a visual dialogue between the jewelry and paintings or sculptures these artists made, articulating the artists’ technical range and varying sources of inspiration.

Diane Venet has been a stalwart figure in the international art world for her entire life; born in Paris to a family of art collectors, she followed in her parents’ footsteps and became a passionate collector after pursuing a career as a radio and television host.

Married to French artist Bernar Venet, she assisted her husband in organizing exhibitions around the world and met notable creatives, including Frank Stella, whom she persuaded to create a unique piece of jewelry just for her, and Robert Rauschenberg, who gave her an eye-catching, avant-garde brooch. Venet appreciates that each piece exemplifies the creative challenges encountered by the artists when forced to translate their practice from a large-scale display to something small, wearable, and deeply personal.

“Diane Venet’s collection is second to none. The necklaces, rings, brooches, earrings, headpieces, and more that she has collected feature incredible details rendered in interesting materials by some of the most famous artists of our time,” said Ghislain d’Humières, Kenneth C. Griffin Director and CEO. “Displayed alongside paintings and sculptures by many of the same artists from the Norton’s Collection, Artists’ Jewelry is an unmissable opportunity to broaden museumgoers’ understanding of their favorite artists’ oeuvres through these miniature works of art.”

The exhibition includes jewelry by Alexander Calder, Salvador Dalí, Rashid Johnson, Yayoi Kusama, Man Ray, Pablo Picasso, Niki de Saint Phalle, Kiki Smith, Frank Stella, and many others. While some pieces are made from hammered metals, precious stones like rubies and diamonds, and precise wiring techniques, others are made from found objects and pieces of metal, plastic, and other unconventional materials. The pieces showcased within Artists’ Jewelry strike a balance between fine art and popular culture, allowing visitors the opportunity to view works by familiar artists in a new context.

Also included are emblematic charms by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, whimsical headpieces by Claude Lalanne and Man Ray, surreal brooches by Dorothea Tanning and Salvador Dalí, and abstract pieces by Louise Nevelson and Arnaldo Pomodoro. Some artists, like Alexander Calder, were prolific jewelry artisans, while other artists, such as Frank Stella, produced one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry.

In each iteration of the exhibition, Diane Venet has invited a select few artists to make new works to join the collection and the exhibition. For the Norton Museum of Art, artist and composer Sheila Concari has produced a sound piece that will accompany visitors throughout the exhibition. Known as a performer and auditory artist, Concari’s compositions investigate interactions between the human voice and new technologies. The piece that Concari has produced for Artists’ Jewelry utilizes spoken word techniques and unique sound treatments to engage visitors and complement the show’s captivating visual displays.

Man Ray’s Optic Topic, 1974, a standout in the exhibition, was purchased by Venet as a gift for her husband, with the object modeled after a driving mask. An 18-centimeter-wide gold mask, the piece mimics the contour of the face with insect-like indentations over each eye. A chunky gold ring designed by Yoko Ono resembling a vinyl record with “Imagine Peace” engraved on it as a nod to her late husband, John Lennon, and a gold and colorful enamel geometric necklace by Meret Oppenheim, one of nine produced, titled Tête de poète, highlight the breadth of Venet’s collection. Modern and contemporary, surrealist and avant-garde, minimalist and kinetic, commercially produced and one-of-a-kind: Venet’s collection has them all.

“The story of this collection is largely that of my friendships in the art world over the past forty years,” said Venet. “In my rather itinerant life, this collection of jewelry is thus an intimate museum that I can take everywhere with me, and the treasure trove which I can find on my return home. I am so honored that the Norton Museum has invited me to share these special pieces with a larger public.”

“Since the beginning of humanity, individuals have adorned themselves with fine metals and precious stones – as modes of class distinction and personal expression,” said J. Rachel Gustafson, Chief Curatorial Operations and Research Officer at the Norton. “This exhibition bridges the gap between craft and fine art, two creative forms that seldom intersect or are interpreted within one exhibition.”

The exhibition was curated by Guest Curator Diane Venet, with J. Rachel Gustafson, Chief Curatorial Operations & Research Officer, and Sarah Bass, Curatorial Research Associate, Norton Museum of Art.