THE ARTIST
James Rivière
Italian jewellery artist and designer whose work brings together contemporary art, sculpture and the ancient tradition of goldsmithing
James Rivière is regarded as one of the most important jewellery creators of the 20th century
A versatile artist, designer and sculptor, he has developed a distinctive vision that brings together artistic research, sculptural form and goldsmithing
His jewellery creations are held in prestigious museums and private collections around the world
In 1999, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris exhibited Monolite, a one-of-a-kind sculptural bracelet in silver
The Vatican’s Secret Archive houses Razionale, a unique creation designed for Pope Benedict XVI in 2007
Since 2008, the pendant Optical Titanio Diago (1973), crafted in silver and polychrome titanium, has been part of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London
The Art of James Rivière
James Rivière’s creations open the door to a magical world, rich in poetry and passion — an enchanted realm of precious objects, luminous forms and vibrant colours
In his creative universe, colour plays a fundamental role: from the hues of precious gemstones to intricate inlays and polychrome titanium, used to evoke rainbows, surreal landscapes and distant worlds
The forms he creates embody distinct characters and rhythms: the triangle represents creativity and dynamism, the square rationality and solidity, while the circle symbolises wholeness and perfection
James Rivière’s art reinterprets the classical world of jewellery through innovative techniques and unconventional materials, combined with the most precious and traditional ones. The result is a new conception of jewellery, envisioned as a precious cultural symbol
For James Rivière, every jewel conveys an emotional message. Beyond creative expression, his works emerge from an imaginary world where dreams, philosophy and poetry intertwine
Creativity
Fragments of extraterrestrial meteorite and sheets of polychrome titanium are frequently incorporated into James Rivière’s one-of-a-kind creations, as exemplified by Razionale, created for Pope Benedict XVI
The artist’s unique creations are born in his atelier at Via Brera 2, in the heart of Milan
In 1973, James Rivière was invited to participate in the Milan Triennale, where his innovative jewellery creations won first prize
Teaching
At the age of 25, James Rivière was invited to lead a seminar on “Plastic Forms in Metal” at the Department of Sculpture of the University of Gdańsk
In 1977, he took part in the founding of the Centro Design Orafo in Milan. In 1978, he established the first jewellery design seminar at the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) and contributed to the creation of its Jewellery Design Department in Milan, where he taught for many years
The Milan Atelier
In the heart of Milan, James Rivière’s atelier is a place of artistic research and creation
Here, the Italian goldsmithing tradition meets technology and material experimentation, giving shape to unique artistic jewels
Each creation emerges from a dialogue between material, form and technique
A balance between artisanal expertise and innovation defines Rivière’s distinctive artistic language
Historical Gallery
James Rivière works across sculpture, painting, design and other artistic disciplines. Jewellery remains his primary form of artistic expression
Explore the Collections
Discover James Rivière’s artistic jewellery through our collections