Giovanni Corvaja
Giovanni Corvaja was born in 1971 in Padua, where he completed his studies at the Pietro Selvatico State Art Institute, specializing in goldsmithing under the guidance of Francesco Pavan and Paolo Maurizio. He later decided to continue his studies abroad and in 1992 he graduated from the Royal College of Art in London.
It all started because of the passion and fascination I had for metals. Even as a child, I found metals very interesting: the way they feel to the touch, the way they reflect light, the way they absorb the heat from our hands so quickly, their malleability and ductility were miracles for me. 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.
This passion for metals has led Corvaja to combine his artistic and formal research with technical experimentation of the highest level. For example, in the early 90s, the artist developed a system which allows him to reduce gold and platinum to the size of one fifth of a human hair. Thanks to this method, he can transform precious metals into fibers, delicate and as soft as fur.
Text by Thereza Pedrosa
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2013
Gold: Status and Glory, Masterpieces from the Middle Ages and Today, Moretti Fine Art, London, in association with Adrian Sassoon
2008
Giovanni Corvaja, Gallery Anna Schmid, Basel, Switzerland
2007
Giovanni Corvaja, Katherine Kalaf Gallery, Perth, Australia
2006
Giovanni Corvaja, Hipotési Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022
Orizzonti d’Autore – Between Visions and Matter, Museo Civico di Asolo, Italy
2019
Il Mestiere delle Arti, Seduzione e bellezza nella contemporaneità. Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Ravenna, Ravenna, Italy
2018
Jewellery: Made by, Worn by, Afrika Museum Berg en Dal, The Netherlands
Honoring Karen Johnson Boyd: Art Jewellery/Sculpture to Wear. Racine Art Museum, Racine,
Wisconsin, USA
Sotheby’s “The Midas Touch” auction of rare and fine gold objects and jewellery Sotheby’s London UK
Jewelry: The Body Transformed. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
Adrian Sassoon, Salon of Art & Design, New York, USA
Adrian Sassoon, Pavilion of Art & Design London, London
MAD Collects, The Museum of Arts and Design, New York City, USA
Dots, Circles and Spheres, Gallery Handwerk, Munich, Germany
Adrian Sassoon, Masterpiece London, The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London
Adrian Sassoon, TEFAF Spring, New York, USA
Adrian Sassoon, TEFAF, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2017
Jewellery: Made by, Worn by, Museum Volkenkunde, Leiden, The Netherlands
50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship, Elements, Edinburgh
Medusa; Jewellery and Taboos, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, France
Timeless Innovation, curated by Joanna Hardy, Goldsmiths Hall, London
Adrian Sassoon, Pavilion of Art & Design London, London
Adrian Sassoon, Masterpiece London, The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London
Adrian Sassoon, TEFAF Maastricht, The Netherlands
2016
Adrian Sassoon, Salon of Art & Design, New York, USA
Adrian Sassoon, Pavilion of Art & Design London, London
Adrian Sassoon, Masterpiece London, The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London
Adrian Sassoon, TEFAF, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2015
Adrian Sassoon, Salon of Art & Design, New York, USA
Adrian Sassoon, Pavilion of Art & Design London, London
Modern Masters, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
Adrian Sassoon, Masterpiece London, The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London
Out of this World! Jewelry in the Space Age, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Adrian Sassoon, COLLECT, Saatchi Gallery, London
What is Luxury? Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Adrian Sassoon, TEFAF, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2014
Adrian Sassoon, Salon of Art & Design, New York, USA
5th European Triennial of Contemporary Jewellery, World Crafts Council, Mons, Belgium
Adrian Sassoon, Pavilion of Art & Design London, London
Adrian Sassoon, Masterpiece London, The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London
Adrian Sassoon, COLLECT, Saatchi Gallery, London
Adrian Sassoon, TEFAF, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2013
Adrian Sassoon, Pavilion of Art & Design London, London
Adrian Sassoon, Masterpiece London, The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London
Adrian Sassoon, COLLECT, Saatchi Gallery, London
Adrian Sassoon, TEFAF, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2012
Gold: Power and Allure, Goldsmiths’ Hall, London
Adrian Sassoon, Pavilion of Art & Design London, London
Adrian Sassoon, Masterpiece London, The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London
Clare Beck at Adrian Sassoon, COLLECT, Saatchi Gallery, London
Adrian Sassoon, TEFAF, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2011
Adrian Sassoon, Pavilion of Art & Design London, London
Adrian Sassoon, Masterpiece London, The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London
Clare Beck at Adrian Sassoon, COLLECT, Saatchi Gallery, London
Adrian Sassoon, TEFAF, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2010
Adrian Sassoon, Pavilion of Art & Design London, London
Adrian Sassoon, Masterpiece London, Former Chelsea Barracks, London
Clare Beck at Adrian Sassoon, COLLECT, The Saatchi Gallery, London
Messe für Kunst und Antiquitäten 2010, Resedenz Salzburg, Represented by Spiegelgasse Gallery, Salzburg, Austria
Adrian Sassoon, TEFAF, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2009
Adrian Sassoon, Pavilion of Art & Design London, London
Alchemia, Middlesborough Institute of Modern Art, Middlesborough
Clare Beck at Adrian Sassoon, COLLECT, The Saatchi Gallery, London
Adrian Sassoon, TEFAF, Maastricht, The Netherlands
The Golden Fleece Collection, Meister Der Moderne, International Trade Fair, Munich, Germany
2008
Erico Nagai, Mittlerin zwishen den Kulturen, Galerie Handwerk, Munich, Germany
Just Must, The Great Guild House, Estonian History Museum, Tallinn, Estonia
Adrian Sassoon, TEFAF, Maastricht, The Netherlands
40th Anniversary of Galerie Handwerk, Galerie Handwerk, Munich, Germany
Gioiello Italiano Contemporaneo, Vicenza, Italy
2007
Bite the Bullet, Harvey Nichols, Manchester
Signs of Value, Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus Hanau, Hanau, Germany 2006
New Italian Design, Triennale di Milano, Milan, Italy
2005
Galleria Maurer-Ziglioli, Desenzano del Garda, Italy
Temptations, Cheongju International Craft Biennale 2005, Cheongju, Southern Korea
International Contemporary Jewellery, Lucca Preziosa, Lucca, Italy
Ryan and Corvaja, Electrum Gallery, London
The Universe of Metals, EXEMPLA, Handwerkskammer für München und Oberbayern, Munich, Germany
2004
Atelier Munsteiner, Stipshausen, Germany
L’or, Bijoux D’Europe, Travelling exhibition in France
Jacqueline Ryan & Giovanni Corvaja, Le Arti Orafe Galleria, Firenze, Italy 2003
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja – New Work, Galerie Hilde Leiss, Hamburg, Germany
Micromegas, Museo degli Eremitani, Padova, Italy & international tour
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja – New Work, Bijouterie Jungblut-Thijssen, Luxembourg
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja – New Work, Bayerischer Kunstgewerbe Verein, Munich, Germany
2003
Jubiläumsausstellung Erfurter Schmucksymposien, Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim, Germany
Contemporary Decorative Arts, Sotheby’s, London
2002
Masterpieces: Centenary Exhibition of Applied Modern Arts, Palazzo Bricherasio, Turin, Italy
Das War’s Also, Galerie Handwerk, Munich, Germany
Art Jewellery, Plateaux Gallery, London
Orfèvrerie de Recherche, Banque du Gothard, Montecarlo, Monaco
Jubiläumsausstellung Erfurter Schmucksymposien, Angermuseum Erfurt, Germany
2002
Galerie Louise Smit, Kunstrai, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2001
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja – New Work, Galerie Tactus, Copenhagen, Denmark
Nocturnus, Muhu Island, Estonia
Galerie Louise Smit, Kunstrai, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Contemporary Craft from The Scottish Gallery, Thomas Goode & Son, London
2000
Erfurter Schmucksymposium, Barfüßerkirche, Erfurt, Germany
Asymmetry and Harmony, PLAZA Building of the Commerz Bank, Frankfurt, Germany
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja, Galerie Hilde Leiss, Hamburg, Germany
The Ego Adorned, 20th-Century Artists’ Jewellery, Antwerpen, Belgium*
Expo Vetrine, Galerie Neuer Schmuck, Hannover, Germany
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja, Galerie Slavik, Vienna, Austria
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja, Musée de l’Horlogerie et de l’Émaillerie, Geneva, Switzerland
1999
The Eye’s Delight, Contemporary Arts and Crafts in Germany, Erfurt, Germany
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja, Galerie Viceversa, Lausanne, Switzerland
Zehnjähriges Jubilaeu, Galerie Slavik, Vienna, Austria
Für Dich-für Mich, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany & tour
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja, Galerie Aurum, Frankfurt, Germany
Hommage an Dr. Herbert Hofmann, Galerie Handwerk, Munich, Germany
Selection ’99, Design Zentrum Nordrein-Westfalen, Essen, Germany
1998
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja, Galerie Louise Smit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Jewellery Moves, National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja, Galerie Treykorn, Berlin, Germany
Schmuck aus Padua, Landesmuseum Joanneum, Graz, Austria
A Genetic Messenger of Happiness, Gallery Artin, Tokyo, Japan
1997
In neuer Reihung, (Friedrich Wilhelm Müller Competition), Germany & tour
Jewellery at the End of the Millennium, Associazione Culturale FATTIDARTE, Piacenza, Italy
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja, Galerie Slavik, Vienna, Austria
1996
Granulation, travelling exhibition, Germany
Studio Herta Sophie Zaunschirm, Zurich, Switzerland
Oreficeria di ricerca, Associazione Culturale FATTIDARTE, Venice, Italy
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja, Studio Herta Zaunschirm, Zurich, Switzerland
Galerie Sophie Lachaert, Gent, Belgium
Repetitions II, touring exhibition, USA & tour
Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja, Galerie Hélène Porée, Paris, France 1995
Ars Ornata Europeana, Bratislava, Slovakia
Galerie Slavik, Vienna, Austria
Camera di Commercio di Terni, Terni, Italy
1994
Schmuckszene ’94, Handwerksmesse, Munich, Germany
1993
Brooches and Pins, Galerie Hélène Porée, Paris, France
Giampaolo Babetto and Giovanni Corvaja, Galerie Treykorn, Berlin, Germany
Facet ’93, Kunsthal, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
1992
Triennale Européenne du Bijou, Paris, France
Schmuckszene ’92, Handwerksmesse, Munich, Germany
1991
Galerie Louise Smit, Kunstrai, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1990
Triennale Européenne du Bijou, Paris, France
1990
Signaturen, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
1989
Schmuckszene ’89, Handwerksmesse, Munich, Germany
Ayrton Metals Platinum Collection, London
Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, Middlesbrough
National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh
Newark Museum, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Nottingham
Royal College of Art, London
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Landesmuseum Joanneum, Graz, Austria
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France
Die Neue Sammlung, Staaliches Museum für angewandte Kunst, Munich, Germany
Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany
Museum für Künst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany
Schmuckmuseum, Pforzheim, Germany
Museo degli Argenti e delle Porcellane di Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Italy
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australia
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Montreal, Canada
Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, Texas, USA
The Newark Museum, New Jersey, USA
The Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Ohio, USA
Racine Art Museum. Racine, Wisconsin, USA
Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Museum for Arts and Design, New York, USA
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
Swiss National Museum, the Alice and Louis Koch Collection, Zurich, Switzerland
2022
Thereza Pedrosa, Orizzonti d’Autore – Between Visions and Matter, catalogue of the exhibition, Museo Civico di Asolo, Italy
2017
Vivienne Becker, Brooches that make men look sharp, Financial Times, How to spend it supplement, 2nd October 2017
2016
Claire Wrathall, Artist design Jewellery, Financial Times, How to spend it supplement, 25th March 2016
2014
Paula Weideger, Giovanni Corvaja: eterea objects spun from threads of precious metals, The Jewelry Editor, 3rd October 2014
Susanne Laengle, Giovanni Corvaja, Universal Beauty Art Aurea 1-2014
2013
Giovanni Corvaja, Adrian Sassoon, London
Paula Weideger. Invention: Obsession of a Master metal worker yield golden wonders, Financial Times 6th September 2013
2012
Collecting Jewellery by Johanna Hardy published by Thames & Hudson
2011
21st Century Jewelry The Best of the 500 Series, by Marthe Le Van, Lark Books, USA
New Rings: 50+ Designs from Around the World, Nicolas Estrada, Thames & Hudson, USA
2009
Emma Crichton-Miller, Obsession with Golden Fleece alive in collection, International Herald Tribune, Jewelry supplement, 10th December 2009
2005
500 Brooches, Larks books, New York, USA 500 Bracelets, Larks books, New York, USA
500 Earrings, Larks books, New York, USA
Temptations, Cheongiu International Craft Biennale 2005, Cheongiu, Southern Korea
Lucca Preziosa, Oreficeria Europea Contemporanea Org. Comune di Lucca,Villa Bottini, Lucca, Italy
2004
1000 Rings, Larks books, New York, USA
L’Or, Bijoux D’Europe – Gold, Jewellery of Europe, Château Musée. Cagnes- sur-Mer, France
Bemporad, D. L. Jacqueline Ryan, Giovanni Corvaja, Org. Le Arti Orafe Art Gallery, Florence, Italy
Atelierausstellung, Atelier Munsteiner, Stipshausen, Germany
2001
Pallavidini, R., Gioiello Creativo: Giovanni Corvaja E Jacqueline Ryan, Gioielli e Bijoux del XX secolo, nr. 3, DeAgostini publisher, Italia, p.50
Mikromegas, Schriftenreihe des Bayerischen Kunstgewerbe-Vereins e.V., Band 27 Galerie für angewndte Kunst, Munich, Germany
2000
Walgrave J, The Ego Adorned: 20th Century Artist’s Jewellery, Koningin Fabiolazaal,
Antwerpen, Belgium
Erfurter Schmucksymposium, Barfüßerkircher / Angermuseum, Erfurt, Germany Lambert, S.,
The Ring: Design, Past and Present, published by Rotovision, France, (ISBN/ASIN 288 046 3173)
1999
Watkins, D., Design Sourcebook, published by New Holland, London (ISBN-1- 859740782)
Jacqueline Ryan, Giovanni Corvaja – Art Jewellery, Edizioni Canova publisher, Treviso, Italy (ISBN-88-87061-66-1)
Schmuck, Kunst am Korper, Galerie Slavik. Wien, Austria
2002
Spagnesi, L., Il Tesoro Di Montecarlo: L’Arte Dei Re, Arte, Editoriale Mondadori, September, n.349, Italia, p.112
Battistoni, L., Uno Splendore Di Gioieli, Città Viva, anno XVII n.2 March/April, Todi, Italia, p.50
2001
Simon, M., Smoke and Fire in Gold – Giovanni Corvaja and Jacqueline Ryan, Metalsmith Magazine, summer (vol. 21 no. 3) p.16, USA
Bellavista, C., Slow is Beautiful, Giovanni Corvaja and Jacqueline Ryan, Schmuck Magazin, Ebner Verlag publisher, Germany, 3/2000 July, p.76
2000
Mina, J., Jacqueline Ryan, Giovanni Corvaja – Art Jewellery, Book Reviews, Crafts Magazine, UK, no.162 January/February, p.61
1999
Mina, J., Winning Gold at the Festival, The Independent newspaper weekend review, 21st August, no. 4,008, p.18
1997
Bach, B., Focus: Golden Fabrics – Giovanni Corvaja, Jewellery Magazine, published
by Ebner Verlag, 5/1997, Germany, p.85
Lucas, F., Eine Handwerksharmonie – Galerie Slavik/Wien, GZ Journal, Ruhle- Diebener-Verlag, 4/1997, Germany p. 166