Among Friends: American and German Jewelry Artists from the Helen Williams Drutt Collection
Galerie Handwerk, Max-Joseph-Str. 4, 80333 Munich, room „Zugspitze“
Book launch: Thursday, March 5, 2026, 10:00–11:30 am
Exhibition: March 5–April 11, 2026, Vernissage: March 4, 2026, 7 pm
We are very excited about the exhibition Among Friends: American and German Jewelry Artists from the Helen Williams Drutt Collection, which will open at the start of Munich Jewelry Week. Among Friends is a homage to an extraordinary personality and a unique network of artistic friendships across the Atlantic. In our exhibition, we honor gallery owner, collector, and educator Helen W. Drutt, who has played a central role in international contemporary jewelry for decades—as a patron, mediator, and passionate bridge builder between the US and Germany.
On display is a high-carat selection from her private collection, featuring around 240 works by American and German jewelry artists. The works span a range from the pioneers of American studio jewelry in the 1960s to contemporary positions of younger generations. The focus is on jewelry as an artistic medium: the works tell stories, address social, political, and religious themes, and experiment with materials, techniques, and forms.
As is well known, a publication is the continuation of an exhibition by other means. We are therefore delighted that this comprehensive and very personal book accompanying the exhibition is being published as part of our program, and we cordially invite you to a special book presentation at the Galerie Handwerk, where Helen Williams Drutt herself will be speaking.
We look forward to:
• Greetings by BARBARA SCHMIDT, Galerie Handwerk, Munich
• Welcome by Dr. MARKUS EDER, Danner-Stiftung, Munich
• Welcome by Prof. Dr. ANGELIKA NOLLERT, Die Neue Sammlung–The Design Museum, Munich
• Introduction by Dr. PETRA HÖLSCHER, Die Neue Sammlung–The Design Museum, Munich
• A few words about the book design by INA BAUER, Stuttgart
• Speech by HELEN WILLIAMS DRUTT, Philadelphia
• Epilogue by CLAUS BURY, Frankfurt
[You can also download the flyer for the event here.]
