Nine students and two staff from the British Academy of Jewellery (BAJ) had their work featured in the Transforma(c)tions exhibition at the Munich Mineral Museum. The official opening took place on 6th March 2026, and their pieces are displayed alongside international makers.

Curated by Dr Sofie Boons and Yitong Zhang, a PhD candidate at the Glasgow School of Art, the exhibition brings together emerging and established makers exploring the relationship between minerals, light, and contemporary jewellery.

International exposure and inspiration

The opening evening at the Munich Mineral Museum was warm and energetic, with a full house of visitors. The exhibition space felt lively and welcoming, with conversations unfolding across the galleries as guests explored the different zones and engaged with the work on display.

While there was no single defining moment, the strongest impression was the sense of togetherness among artists, curators, and visitors. The curators’ careful planning was evident in the smooth running of the event and the high level of audience engagement.

BAJ students and staff attended the opening, connecting with fellow makers and visitors from across the international jewellery community.

“It was truly an honour to be a part of something so extraordinary. The time and work everyone had put into the exhibition, and their pieces were amazing to see. A genuine pleasure to be a guest and exhibitor.”

– Syd Kendall, BA Specialist Technician

Students reflected on the experience of exhibiting internationally:

“I feel very honoured that my ring has been exhibited on a global stage, and grateful that my work could be part of such a special exhibition. Being surrounded by so many diverse artists who share the same passion as I do was incredibly inspiring and motivating for my own practice.”

– Anastasia Kan

“The experience was impressive and valuable. Having my jewellery featured on an international stage was deeply meaningful and fulfilling, reinforcing my commitment to the craft and the universal language of material and form.”

– Rebecca Prenga

“Visiting Munich Jewellery Week has been inspiring. Having the opportunity for my work to be presented on a professional global stage, for the public and other designers to see, has been motivating and affirming.”

– Natalie Asher-Martin

BAJ students exhibited within the exhibition’s Optics Zone, exploring the transformative qualities of minerals through phosphorescence, fluorescence, and light-responsive surfaces.

Students

• Anastasia Kan – shimmering transitions between structure and glow.
• Emily Murphy – capturing and releasing stored light to explore temporality.
• Lily Straker – uncovering hidden layers in form through light-responsive surfaces.
• Naima Cheniya – using afterglow as a poetic expression of energy.
• Natalie Asher-Martin – sculpting luminescent forms reflecting memory and transformation.
• Rebecca Prenga – blending material texture with optical effects.
• Rozana Piper – creating narrative-driven fluorescent compositions.
• Veroni Dimitrov – playing with shadow, form, and emitted light.
• Veronika Dika – exploring the threshold between visibility and disappearance.

Two BAJ staff members also exhibited work in Zone 1: Energetics, exploring crystals as active materials and revealing new narratives of resonance and transformation. Sofie Boons had a full display of her work exhibited in Zone 3: Physics and some work alongside BAJ student’s in Zone 4: Optics.

Staff

• Nicholas Yiannarakis
• Syd Kendall
• Dr Sofie Boons

A showcase of innovation and creativity

The exhibition demonstrates how minerals actively interact with light, revealing movement and vitality within contemporary jewellery. BAJ’s participation highlights the international reach and creative ambition of its students and staff, reinforcing the Academy’s role in nurturing emerging makers within the global jewellery community.

The Transforma(c)tions exhibition was made possible thanks to the curators, partner institutions including BREVALOR, the Mineral Museum team, all artists, staff, and everyone who contributed.