To celebrate its sixth anniversary, BABS Art Gallery in Milan is presenting a special exhibition that retraces its journey in the field of artist jewelry. From September 13 to October 4, a new temporary venue on Via Carducci 25 will host two simultaneous exhibitions: one that showcases the gallery’s past collaborations with prominent Italian and international artists, and another that features a solo show by designer Alba Rosa Mancini.

The ground floor of the venue brings together the works of sixteen artists who, over the years, have worked with the gallery to create collections of sculptural jewelry. Each artist is represented not only by a selection of their jewelry pieces but also by an artwork—be it a painting, sculpture, photograph, or installation. This setup creates a dialogue between traditional artworks and wearable sculptures, emphasizing how each artist has interpreted their own visual language within the constraints of jewelry design. The jewelry on display is conceived to be worn, harmoniously integrating with the human body and enhancing it with expressive and aesthetic power.

Among the standout pieces are works that explore the material’s expressive potential through various forms and symbols. Some pieces reflect urban landscapes and geometric obsessions, while others draw inspiration from nature, such as bees or organic structures. There is a strong interplay between materials—ranging from metals like silver and titanium to more unconventional choices like enamel, plexiglass, and raw stones—and the themes explored by the artists, such as fire, movement, and transformation.

On the upper floor, the exhibition pays tribute to Italian masters in goldsmithing and international jewelry design who have also collaborated with the gallery, highlighting the bridge between contemporary art and traditional craftsmanship.

The second floor is entirely dedicated to the solo exhibition of Alba Rosa Mancini, titled “The Expressive Power of Matter.” An architect and designer based in Naples, Mancini has been creating contemporary jewelry since 2000. Her work is deeply tied to the materials she encounters, often using industrial remnants or natural elements—such as wire mesh, springs, driftwood, stones, and even glass tubing from neon lights—which she manipulates by hand to create unique sculptural forms. For Mancini, the creative act is instinctive and tactile, with geometry and spatial awareness playing central roles.

Her pieces are not just ornaments, but narratives. Each object invites interaction and emotional connection, expressing playfulness and elegance. Some have been previously exhibited at prestigious institutions like the Triennale di Milano, the Museo del Gioiello in Vicenza, and museums in Naples. Whether using fine metals or humble materials, her creations reflect a distinctive aesthetic that merges movement, form, and meaning into wearable art.