Barabash, Verragio’s client relations representative, was a vital member of the team and is remembered as being warm and full of life.
Designers From 18 Countries to Showcase at MAD
The Museum of Arts and Design’s annual contemporary jewelry sale and exhibition is happening in April.

New York—The Museum of Arts and Design’s 19th annual “Loot: MAD About Jewelry” sale and exhibition will showcase a truly diverse group of contemporary design voices next month.
Hailing from 18 different countries, 55 artists—most of whom are exhibiting in New York City for the first time—will display their contemporary jewelry to the public.
Among the various jewelry artists and designers exhibiting will be Selvaggia Armani of Italy, who creates necklaces and brooches as part of her textile work. Armani is set to create hand-painted leather jewelry on-site during the show.
Also in attendance will be Mariko Kusumoto. Born in Japan and based in Massachusetts, Kusumoto manipulates fabric into unique three-dimensional forms through a proprietary heat technique.
She creates jewelry and sculpture this way, and has even collaborated with Jean-Paul Gaultier, who featured Kusumoto’s creations alongside his spring/summer 2019 gowns during Paris Haute Couture Week.
The exhibiting jewelers’ work only gets more conceptual from there. Taiwanese artist Heng Lee explores the intersection of nature and the digital world through jewelry that incorporates downloaded images, laser-cut metal and embroidery, while Scotland-based Wanshu Li incorporates ultraviolet-reactive nylon and fluorescent paint into her jewelry that provides a different effect when viewed beneath UV light.
Loot Curator Bryna Pomp said that this year’s exhibition features many young artists, including four recent graduates of La Escuela de Arte 3, in Madrid, Spain, as well as more precious jewelry rendered in gold with precious stones than in the past that she called, “exceptionally original in design.”
“LOOT reflects the core of MAD’s mission to celebrate the creative process and connect audiences to contemporary art and design,” Loot 2019 co-chair Marsy Mittlemann said. “It presents an extraordinary opportunity for artists and viewers to interact with one another and engage in conversations around the work.
Her co-chair, Joan Hornig, echoed this, saying, “No other exhibition in the world brings viewers into contact with the diversity of design and designers showcased each spring at MAD. It is the perfect venue for both serious and first-time collectors to engage with global talent and purchase unique pieces of wearable art at every price point.”
As it has since 2016, a jury will choose one artist or designer to receive the Loot Acquisition Prize. A piece from that artist will become a permanent part of MAD’s jewelry collection.
The 2019 exhibition will run April 9 through April
To purchase tickets for the benefit, visit the MAD museum website or contact Rebekka Grossman at 212-299-7712 or rebekka.grossman@madmuseum.org.
The Latest

Originally introduced in 1992, the “Dot” collection is back with a capsule featuring five archival designs and three new creations.

Allison-Kaufman has received the honor for the fourth year in a row.

Jewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.

The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.


Taylor Swift dons the vibrant pair in new promotional imagery for her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set to release in October.

Its investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

Nicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.

Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.

Longtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.

The full-day sourcing and networking event, slated for Aug. 18, will be followed by the fifth annual Mega Mixer Summer Soirée.

The board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.

JD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.

The new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.

Acquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.

The “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.

Columnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.

Peter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.

The retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.

The Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.

The company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.

The organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.

The brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.

The first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.