Biography
Annamaria Zanella is one of the leading figures in contemporary jewelry. She has gained international recognition for her conceptual yet poetic works.
Born in Padua, a historic center of avant-garde goldsmithing, she completed her training at the Istituto Statale d’Arte “Pietro Selvatico” and later at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice, where she developed a style that combined technical skill with a strongly conceptual approach.
Closely aligned with the ethos of “Arte Povera,” Zanella challenged traditional values by combining precious metals with unconventional materials such as plastics, cork, and found objects. Her works—often referred to as “microsculptures”—are characterized by expressive surfaces and asymmetrical forms, transforming jewelry into a medium for poetic and intellectual exploration. Bold color accents are a defining feature of many objects, particularly a blue pigment she produced herself using a 14th-century recipe.
Despite their high aesthetic quality, the focus is not on the use of valuable materials. Her works are a testament to her experimental exploration of form and material, which incorporates personal impressions and experiences as well as political and social critique.
Zanella has twice been awarded the prestigious Herbert Hofmann Prize (1997, 2006), thereby gaining international recognition. Her works are held in major museum collections, including the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and Die Neue Sammlung in Munich.
We regularly auction works by Annamaria Zanella in our auctions. If you would like to sell your items, our experts are at your disposal.
