Material Procession

Highly personal, jewelry is a form of expression unlike any other. On the elemental grounds of The Barnes Foundation, I play on the compositional possibilities that exist in Marco Bicego’s Essential 8 jewelry collection. Interpretive pieces layer into the the reimagined home of Dr. Albert C. Barnes famously eccentric collection in a meeting of soulful modernism. Designed by New York architect’s Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, the space unfolds through a procession of materials. Elegant details surface in a land of material richness. A gallery in a garden, Marco’s statement earrings foray into sculpture as Dion Lee’s stark white cutaway blazer juxtaposes the leafy layers. Long layering necklaces convey interesting perspectives. Against the bronze and glass gates to the Collection Gallery, striking shapes harmonize through strength in scale and geometry.

Flanked by the African inspired architectural detailing, silhouetted in the sharp tailoring of Protagonist, multi-dimensional design is a testament to the importance of African Art in the Foundation’s history and art collection. Inspired by traditional ornaments of the African Masai tribe, Marco Bicego’s new Masai Collection is where I convey my affection for layered symbolism. Reflecting on classicism, acknowledging history and tradition is a pillar for meaningful creation.

Architectural details-meets-modern ornamentalism in my collaboration with Architectural Digest x Marco Bicego