Hidden Treasures: Ukraine’s Jewellery Visionaries Shine at GemGenève 2025

[Geneva, May 2025] — The Strong & Precious Art Foundation once again brought the heartbeat of Ukraine to the international jewellery world, marking its sixth powerful presence at GemGenève, one of Europe’s most distinguished jewellery and gemstone exhibitions.

Titled “Hidden Treasures”, this year’s curation spotlighted eleven Ukrainian designers, whose work embodied resilience, heritage, and raw creativity — a continuation of the foundation’s mission to nurture Ukraine’s contemporary jewelry sector and preserve its cultural identity.

A Tapestry of Talent

Among the featured artists were Julie Kleom, Inesa Kovalova, Olena Yastreb, Olga Vynogradova, Jewelry Lab, Arevik, Iryna Karpova, Oleksandra Kuzenkova, and others — many of whom were alumni of the foundation’s past editions or winners of its national design competition.

Their work was elevated through a unique collaboration with Volyn Gems, granting access to native stones like topaz and beryl. These Ukrainian gems did more than dazzle — they told stories of homeland, memory, loss, and hope.

Other featured artists such as Inesa Kovalova, Oleksandra Kuzenkova, Aga.te, Iryna Karpova, Anton Boyko, and Anna Scheideman each offered unique interpretations of memory, geometry, urban identity, or ecological awareness — pushing the boundaries of what jewelry can express.

The booth’s immersive display mirrored Ukraine’s organic landscape: towering white forms with sprouting green shapes represented creativity emerging from earth and tradition. This poetic space captured the attention of leading curators, collectors, and editors — affirming the foundation’s status as a key player in global jewelry discourse.

Jewellery as Cultural Testimony

From Arevik’s “Swallow” brooch, which honored the folk song Shchedryk with 109 white diamonds, to Inesa Kovalova’s “Memoir”, capturing personal healing through topaz inclusions, the pieces functioned as both adornment and historical document.

Arevik’s “Swallow” brooch

Inesa Kovalova’s “Memoir”

In Olga Vynogradova’s “Imaginary Heritage”, echoes of Ukraine’s lost archeological treasures were reimagined into wearable relics. Jewelry Lab’s “Chestnuts of Kyiv” celebrated urban memory through brass and smoky quartz, while Iryna Karpova’s “Sunny Blossom” fused wood, gold, and amber in a tribute to warmth and light.

Olga Vynogradova’s “Imaginary Heritage”

Jewelry Lab’s “Chestnuts of Kyiv”

Experimental artist Anton Boyko, currently serving in Ukraine’s armed forces, presented earlier works alongside the prototype of his latest piece, “Resilience.” Inspired by bone structures and the Voronoi diagram, the ring exemplifies strength through fragmentation — a poignant metaphor for Ukraine’s own experience.

“Resilience” Ring and Other Jewelry Art Pieces by Anton Boyko

Titanium, silver

Installation as Metaphor

The booth design — white stone structures with green shoots — mirrored Ukraine’s resilience, symbolizing the emergence of life and creativity even in harsh environments.

Global Recognition

Icons such as Helen Molesworth (Curator, V&A Museum) and Melanie Grant (author and curator) praised the works for their museum-level importance, while editors, collectors, and influencers from around the world gathered to witness the display.

“This year felt especially warm and affirming,” said Olga Oleksenko, Founder of Strong & Precious.

“There’s a deep sense of creative community at GemGenève. We’re proud to bring the strength and vision of Ukraine into that space.”

Looking Ahead

Strong & Precious continues to foster the next generation of Ukrainian jewelry artists, offering mentorship, exposure, and opportunity — and calling on cultural partners and media to support their mission.

“Supporting new names is one of our most important tasks,” emphasised Oleksenko.

“We want these artists not only to emerge but to shape the global cultural dialogue through jewelry.”

To support the foundation or explore partnerships, contact: olga@strongandprecious.com

Author: Shohista Turdiyeva

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