NEW YORK, NY.- The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced three individuals selected for a new artisan residency program that emphasizes the preservation and reinterpretation of traditional craft techniques. The artisans are Aspen Golann, an American artist, furniture maker, and educator; Joy Harvey, a British-Italian jewelry artist; and Ibrahim Said, an Egyptian-American ceramicist. The 18-month residency program is one of several initiatives undertaken by the Swiss watchmaker and The Met as part of a partnership that reflects a shared dedication to preserving and celebrating the arts.
"We are thrilled to inaugurate this artisan residency program in collaboration with Vacheron Constantin. This initiative embodies our mutual commitment to artistic innovation and cultural dialogue,” said Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer. “The three selected artisans—Aspen Golann, Joy Harvey, and Ibrahim Said—are remarkably skilled practitioners who breathe new life into traditional techniques. We look forward to seeing how their engagement with both The Met and Vacheron Constantin will inspire new works that powerfully connect the past and present.”
Taking place from May 2025 to October 2026, the residency consists of three phases. In phase one, artisans will engage with The Met collection and staff and will also travel to Geneva, Switzerland, to learn from Vacheron Constantin’s craftspeople, processes, and practices. Following this research period, artisans will transition to creating and producing an original work of art that incorporates reinterpretations of a traditional craft, with Met staff providing logistical and material support to help ensure the successful realization of each artisan's vision. In the third and final phase, artisans share their processes through Museum workshops, programs, and community events.
The three finalists for the residency were chosen by a panel of experts—including curators, art administrators, educators, artisans, craftspeople, and artists—based on the strength of their proposals, technical virtuosity, artistic merit, and innovative approach.
Heidi Holder, the Museum’s Frederick P. and Sandra P. Rose Chair of Education, said, “At The Met, we believe deeply in the power of art to ignite curiosity and, at the same time, to redefine artistic and cultural boundaries. This residency is a testament to that belief, offering the artisans access to our collection, scholarly resources, and the expertise of Met scientists, curators, educators, and staff to inform, inspire, and support the reimagining of traditional craft knowledge and techniques for the next generations.”
The Met and Vacheron Constantin’s partnership launched in 2023 and emphasizes a shared dedication to mentorship, craftsmanship, and cultural legacy. The partnership supports a number of initiatives that align with the Museum’s mission, including educational programs, special events, and Vacheron Constantin timepieces inspired by artworks from The Met collection.
Aspen Golann is an artist, furniture maker, and educator specializing in woodworking and historic design practices. Her work engages with early American furniture forms and uses them to explore gender, power, labor, and craft. She is the founder of The Chairmaker’s Toolbox, a nonprofit dedicated to equity in the field of woodworking, and currently teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design. Golann’s work has been featured on NPR and PBS and in The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Elle, Luxe, Fine Woodworking, and American Craft. She is a 2025 United States Artists Fellow and a 2023 Maxwell/Hanrahan Award in Craft recipient.
Joy Harvey is a British-Italian jewelry artist who combines scientific insight, unrestricted material curiosity, and a deep love for traditional craftsmanship in organic forms. With a background in pure chemistry, she co-founded La Luce in 2021, an award-winning jewelry studio blending Florentine goldsmithing, unprejudiced use of techniques, and digital innovation. Her work explores themes of imperfection, aging, and societal perceptions of beauty, challenging conventional ideals. Each jewel is deeply personal, and in her approach, Harvey aims to bridge the gap between wearable art and high jewelry by creating profoundly meaningful pieces that can be worn every day. In 2024, La Luce became a certified B Corporation, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability. Harvey is also a founding member of Truly Precious, a nonprofit organization focused on sharing knowledge on sustainable jewelry supply chains.
Recognized for his technical ability, creativity, and innovation, ceramic artist Ibrahim Said comes from a family of potters in Fustat, an area near Cairo, Egypt, renowned for pottery production. His father became his first teacher, and the rich cultural heritage of Egypt became his second. Said’s signature work embodies a lightness and delicacy balanced by the strong lines and bold shapes that distinguished ancient Egyptian ceramics. He pushes the limits of clay, through both structural technique and surface adornment, to create pieces that celebrate his cultural heritage while advancing towards new horizons. He has participated in workshops and demonstrations throughout the Middle East. His work is included in numerous collections in the Middle East, as well as in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, Smithsonian Museum of American Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, National Gallery of Scotland, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Wellin Museum of Art, Colby Museum of Art, and Kalamazoo Institute of Art.
