Fifteen minutes after starting to see the feature exhibit at the Norton Museum of Art I knew I had a Fabulous Friday post. I was blown away by Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection. What’s impressive is not only the jewelry which represents the major modern and contemporary art movements , but also, the fact the pieces are displayed alongside art and sculpture of some of the most famous artists of their time. On view is a selection of more than 150 pieces of the art inspired jewelry — necklaces, rings, brooches, earrings, headpieces, and more– made by some of the most significant artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, from the collection of Diane Venet. These pieces are displayed alongside about 60 two- and three-dimensional artworks from the Norton’s Collection from now to October 5, 2025.

For the jewelry, the pieces are displayed in a series of standing cases, table cases, and wall cases. With some pieces, visitors will be able to place their hands under the plexiglass displays and see what it would be like to put a Warhol watch on, for example. In other situations, the standing cases are enclosed in plexiglass so a visitor can stand on one side while another stands on the other and see that person with an “outfit” of jewelry on – it is like a window that is built to human scale.

Diane Venet has been a stalwart figure in the international art world for her entire life; born in Paris to a family of art collectors, she followed in her parents’ footsteps and became a passionate collector after pursuing a career as a radio and television host.

Married to French artist Bernar Venet, she assisted her husband in organizing exhibitions around the world and met notable creatives, including Frank Stella, whom she persuaded to create a unique piece of jewelry just for her, and Robert Rauschenberg, who gave her an eye-catching, avant-garde brooch. Venet appreciates that each piece exemplifies the creative challenges encountered by the artists when forced to translate their practice from a large-scale display to something small, wearable, and deeply personal.

The exhibition of art inspired jewelry includes jewelry by Alexander Calder, Salvador Dalí, Rashid Johnson, Yayoi Kusama, Man Ray, Pablo Picasso, Niki de Saint Phalle, Kiki Smith, Frank Stella, and many others. While some pieces are made from hammered metals, precious stones like rubies and diamonds, and precise wiring techniques, others are made from found objects and pieces of metal, plastic, and other unconventional materials. The pieces showcased within Artists’ Jewelry strike a balance between fine art and popular culture, allowing visitors the opportunity to view works by familiar artists in a new context.

Also included are emblematic charms by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, whimsical headpieces by Claude Lalanne and Man Ray, surreal brooches by Dorothea Tanning and Salvador Dalí, and abstract pieces by Louise Nevelson and Arnaldo Pomodoro. Some artists, like Alexander Calder, were prolific jewelry artisans, while other artists, such as Frank Stella, produced one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry.

Modern and contemporary, surrealist and avant-garde, minimalist and kinetic, commercially produced and one-of-a-kind: Venet’s collection has them all.

Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection is organized in partnership with Diane Venet and the Norton Museum of Art.

Looking to combine a visit to the Norton Museum with other things to do in Palm Beach? Click here for ideas.