Milano Jewelry Week 2026 — Exhibition Report

From October 24 to 26, 2026, I participated in Artistar Jewels, an international jewelry exhibition held at Palazzo Bovara in Milan, Italy, as part of Milano Jewelry Week.

I presented four works featuring Australian opals in a beautiful historic setting alongside jewelry artists from around the world.

Returning to Italy After Ten Years

It had been ten years since my last visit to Italy.

When I studied jewelry making in Florence, I was completely absorbed in learning traditional techniques. Every day brought something new to discover.

Walking through the streets of Italy again, surrounded by its architecture, decorative details, and the familiar sound of the Italian language, brought back vivid memories of those days.

After returning to Japan, I continued developing my skills and searching for my own artistic expression.

To return to Italy ten years later, this time to present works I had designed and created, meant a great deal to me.

Four Works, Four Expressions

The four works presented at the exhibition were LOGGIA DI LUCE, NOTTE D’OPALE, PAVONE, and PAPILIO ULYSSES.

Each work begins with the opal itself—its unique shape, color, and play of light.

From there, I consider the structure of the setting, the relationship between the gemstone and the metal, and the decorative details that will bring the composition together.

Traditional hand engraving (Incisione) and pierced openwork (Traforo), which I studied in Florence, remain essential to my practice.

I am particularly drawn to the delicate lines created through engraving and the interplay of light, shadow, and negative space formed by openwork.

The exhibition gave visitors an opportunity to see details that photographs cannot fully convey: the changing colors of opals, the subtle textures of engraved metal, and the three-dimensional structures of each piece.

Encounters in Milan

During the exhibition, I had the pleasure of meeting international visitors, fellow jewelry artists from different countries, and students studying jewelry in Italy.

These encounters offered new perspectives and inspiration.

One particularly memorable moment was seeing an international jewelry editor wear my work and hearing her appreciation for my craftsmanship.

Having the techniques and artistic expression I have developed over the years recognized in this way was deeply encouraging.

It strengthened my desire to continue creating, trusting my own artistic sensibility while refining my skills.

Featured in the Official Catalogue

All four exhibited works were also featured in the official Artistar Jewels 2026 catalogue.

Seeing my artist profile and works presented in print was a meaningful moment, and the catalogue will remain a special record of this experience.

With Gratitude

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to OPAL STREET for providing the beautiful opals and supporting my exhibition in Milan in so many ways.

I am also deeply grateful to the clients who kindly lent their cherished jewelry for the exhibition, to everyone who continues to support my work, and to those patiently awaiting their orders.

My heartfelt thanks also go to my teachers in Italy and to everyone who helped and supported me during my time there.

Now that the exhibition has ended, I am back at my workbench in Japan.

This experience has strengthened my determination to continue refining my skills.

I want to become increasingly capable of translating the designs I envision into finished pieces, with greater precision and freedom.

To achieve this, I hope to keep developing my craftsmanship while cherishing the traditional techniques I learned in Florence and giving each stage of the making process the attention it deserves.

Above all, I want to continue creating with my own hands.

My heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this experience possible.