Giovanni Corvaja


Biography:

Born in Padua , Italy on the 30th September 1971, he commenced his studies in goldsmithing at the "Pietro Selvatico" School of Art in Padua, under the teaching of the master goldsmith Francesco Pavan in 1985. During his years of study in Padova he worked privately in the workshop of both Francesco Pavan. It is during this period that his first works in titanium and gold emerged (1988-'89) followed by the first pieces he made in gold wire, using a technique of three-dimensional knitting of his own creation (1989-'90). It was at the "Pietro Selvatico" School of Art that he obtained first his "Diploma di Maestro d'Arte" in 1988 and then in 1990, his "Maturità d'Arte Applicata". In 1990 he went to the Royal College of Art in London, which is where he met Jacqueline Ryan. After obtaining a Master of Arts Degree in 1992, he returned to Padua with Jacqueline Ryan where he decided to pursue jewellery art on a full-time basis.
In 2001 he transferred to Todi in central Italy.

GROUP AND SOLO EXIBITIONS:

  • 1989
  • "Schmuckszene '89", Handwerksmesse, Munich, Germany*
  • 1990
  • "Signaturen" Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany*
  • "Triennale Européenne du Bijou", Paris, France*
  • 1991
  • "Kunstrai", Amsterdam, The Netherlands (represented by Galerie Louise Smit)
  • 1992
  • "Schmuckszene '92", Handwerksmesse, Munich, Germany*
  • "Triennale Européenne du Bijou", Paris, France*
  • 1993
  • "Facet '93" Kunsthal, Rotterdam, The Netherlands*
  • "Giampaolo Babetto-Giovanni Corvaja", Galerie Treykorn, Berlin, Germany
  • "Broches and Pins", Galerie Hélène Porée, Paris, France
  • 1994
  • "Schmuckszene '94", Handwerksmesse, Munich, Germany*
  • 1995
  • Camera di Commercio di Terni, Terni, Italy
  • Galerie Slavik, Vienna, Austria
  • "Ars Ornata Europeana", Bratislava, Slovakia*
  • 1996
  • "Oreficeria di ricerca" Associazione Culturale FATTIDARTE, Piacenza, Italy*
  • "SOFA" Chicago Art Fair, Chicago, USA (represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja", Galerie Hélène Porée, Paris, France
  • "Repetitions II", travelling exhibition, USA
  • "... du contemporain Bijoux et Orfèvrerie de créateurs", Cagnes sur Mer, France*
  • "Kunstrai", Amsterdam, The Netherlands (represented by Galerie Ademloos)
  • Galerie Sophie Lachaert, Gent, Belgium*
  • "Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja", Studio Herta Zaunschirm, Zurich, Switzerland
  • "Oreficeria di ricerca", Associazione Culturale FATTIDARTE, Venice, Italy
  • Studio Herta Sophie Zaunschirm, Zurich, Switzerland
  • "Granulation", travelling exhibition, Germany*
  • 1997
  • "Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja", Galerie Slavik, Vienna, Austria
  • "Schmuck '97", Handwerksmesse, Munich, Germany*
  • "SOFA" Miami, USA, (represented by Charon Kransen)*
  • "Jewellery at the End of the Millennium", Associazione Culturale FATTIDARTE ,Piacenza, Italy*
  • "SOFA" Chicago, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "In neuer Reihung" (Friedrich Wilhelm Müller Competition), travelling exhibition, Germany*
  • 1998
  • "A Genetic Messenger of Happiness", Gallery Artin, Tokyo, Japan
  • "Schmuck '98", Handwerksmesse, Munich, Germany*
  • "Schmuck aus Padua", Landesmuseum Joanneum, Graz, Austria*
  • "SOFA" New York, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "Jacqueline Ryan-Giovanni Corvaja", Galerie Treykorn, Berlin, Germany
  • "Kunstrai", Amsterdam, The Netherlands (represented by Galerie Louise Smit)
  • "Jewellery Moves" National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland*
  • "Jacqueline Ryan- Giovanni Corvaja", Galerie Louise Smit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • "SOFA" Chicago, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • 1999
  • "Selection '99" Design Zentrum Nordrein-Westfalen, Essen, Germany
  • "Hommage an Dr. Herbert Hofmann", Galerie Handwerk, Munich, Germany
  • "SOFA" New York, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "Kunstrai", Amsterdam, The Netherlands (represented by Galerie Louise Smit)
  • "Jacqueline Ryan-Giovanni Corvaja", Galerie Aurum, Frankfurt, Germany
  • "Jacqueline Ryan- Giovanni Corvaja, new work", The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland
  • "Für Dich-für Mich", Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany (travelling exhibition)
  • "Zehnjähriges Jubilaeu", Galerie Slavik, Vienna, Austria*
  • "SOFA" Chicago, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "Jacqueline Ryan-Giovanni Corvaja", Galerie Viceversa, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • "The Eye's Delight" Contemporary Arts and Crafts in Germany, Erfurt, Germany*
  • "20th Century Arts Fair" New York, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • 2000
  • "Sotheby's Contemporary Decorative Arts Selling Exhibition", London, England
  • "Jacqueline Ryan-Giovanni Corvaja" showcase, Musée de l'horologerie et de l'émaillerie, Geneva,
  • Switzerland
  • "Jacqueline Ryan-Giovanni Corvaja", Galerie Slavik, Vienna, Austria
  • "SOFA" New York, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "Expo Vetrine" Galerie Neuer Schmuck, Hannover, Germany
  • "The Ego Adorned" 20th-Century Artists' Jewellery, Antwerpen, Belgium*
  • "Jacqueline Ryan-Giovanni Corvaja", Galerie Hilde Leiss, Hamburg, Germany
  • "SOFA" Chicago, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "20th Century Arts Fair" New York, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "Assymetry and Harmony", PLAZA Building of the Commerz Bank, Frankfurt, Germany*
  • "9. Erfurter Schmucksymposium" Barfüßerkirche, Erfurt, Germany*
  • 2001
  • "Micromegas" Bayerischer Kunstgewerbe Verein, Munich, Germany *
  • "SOFA" New York, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "Contemporary Craft from the Scottish Gallery" Thomas Goode & Son, London, England
  • "Kunstrai", Amsterdam, The Netherlands (represented by Galerie Louise Smit)
  • "SOFA" Chicago, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "Nocturnus" Muhu Island, Estonia*
  • 2002
  • "Micromegas" Musée de l'horologerie e de l'émaillerie, Geneva, Switzerland*
  • "Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja - New Work" Galerie Tactus, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • "SOFA" New York, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "Kunstrai", Amsterdam, The Netherlands (represented by Galerie Louise Smit)
  • "Jubiläumsausstellung Erfurter Schmucksymposien" Angermuseum Erfurt, Germany
  • "Orfèvrerie de Recherche", Banque du Gothard, Montecarlo, Monaco
  • "Art Jewellery", Plateaux Gallery, London, England
  • "20th Century Arts Fair" New York, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "SOFA" Chicago, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "Das War's Also", Gallery Handwerk, Munich, Germany
  • "Masterpieces" - Centenary Exhibition of applied modern arts (1902.2002) Palazzo Bricherasio,
  • Turin, Italy
  • "Micromegas" Gallery Yu, Hiko Mizuno College of Jewellery, Tokyo, Japan*
  • 2003
  • "Contemporary Decorative Arts Selling Exhibition 2003" Sotheby's London England
  • "Micromegas" Power House Museum, Sydney, Australia*
  • "Jubiläumsausstellung Erfurter Schmucksymposien" Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim, Germany
  • "Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja – New Work" Bayerischer Kunstgewerbe Verein, Munich,
  • Germany
  • "Micromegas" John Curtin Gallery, Perth, Australia*
  • "Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja – New Work" Bijouterie Jungblut-Thijssen, Luxembourg
  • "Micromegas" Museo degli Eremitani, Padova, Italy
  • "SOFA" New York, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "SOFA" Chicago, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "Jacqueline Ryan and Giovanni Corvaja – New Work" Galerie Hilde Leiss, Hamburg, Germany
  • "Artform Palm Beach FL. represented by Charon Kransen
  • " Int. Art + Design Fair, NY, represented by Charon Kransen
  • 2004
  • "Palm Beach Contemporary Art and Design Fair" Florida, USA (represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "Collect" Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England
  • "SOFA" New York, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • Jacqueline Ryan-Giovanni Corvaja, Galleria "Le Arti Orafe" Firenze
  • "SOFA" Chicago, USA,(represented by Charon Kransen)
  • "L'or, Bijoux D'Europe" Travelling exhibition in France*
  • Exhibition at the "Atelier Munsteiner", Germany
  • Int. Art + Design Fair NY, represented by Charon Kransen

(* catalogue)

TEACHING EXPERIENCES:

  • 1998
  • Masterclass about the ancient etruscan technique of granulation at the Edinburgh College of Art in
  • Scotland.
  • Lecture about his work and the result of the masterclass at a conference organised by the
  • Association for Contemporary Jewellery.
  • 1999
  • Lecture over the research for lightness in his work at a design seminar entitled "Reden über
  • Gestaltung" in Potsdam (Germany).
  • 2000
  • "Masters of the 21st century" Lecture about his work at "SOFA" New York, USA.
  • "9th Jewellery Symposium", Erfurt, Germany.
  • 2001
  • "Granulation Antike geheimnisse für das 21.Jarhundert" Summer Workshop on Granulation at
  • Zeichenakademie Hanau, Germany
  • 2002
  • Platinum course at the Estonian Art Academy, Tallinn, Estonia
  • Lecture at SNAG conference and post conference workshop on Platinum, Denver, Colorado, USA.
  • Granulation course at the Haywood Community College, Asheville, North Carolina, USA
  • Granulation course at the University of Central England, Birmingham, England
  • "Granulation Antike geheimnisse für das 21.Jarhundert" Summer Workshop on Granulation at Zeichenakademie Hanau, Germany
  • Granulation course in Luzern, Switzerland
  • 2003
  • Granulation course "Le Arti Orafe" Jewellery School, Florence, Italy
  • Visiting lecturer at "Le Arti Orafe" Jewellery School, Florence, Italy
  • 2004
  • Visiting lecturer at "Le Arti Orafe" Jewellery School, Florence, Italy
  • Granulation course "Le Arti Orafe" Jewellery School, Florence, Italy
  • Granulation course at the University of Central England, Birmingham, England
  • Masterclass on the use of wire in jewellery at Le Arti Orafe" Jewellery School, Florence, Italy
  • Masterclass on the use of wire in jewellery in Luzern, Switzerland
  • Visiting lecturer at "Le Arti Orafe" Jewellery School, Florence Italy

AWARDS

  • 1990
  • 3rd Prize "Signaturen", Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
  • 1991
  • 2nd Prize "Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers Competition", London,
  • England
  • 1992
  • "Herbert Hofmann Prize", Munich, Germany
  • 1996
  • 2nd Prize "Granulation '96", Pforzheim, Germany
  • 1997
  • "Bayerischer Staatspreis", Munich, Germany
  • 1998
  • "Prize for Highly Commended Work", International Jewellery Competition '97, Tokyo, Japan
  • Prize of the "Unione Regionale delle Camere di Commercio dell'Umbria", Terni, Italy

WORK IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS:

  • 1992
  • Collection "Benno und Therese Danner'sche Kunstgewerbestiftung", Munich, Germany
  • Royal College of Art Public Collection, London, England
  • Ayrton Metals Platinum Collection, London, England
  • 1996
  • Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Montreal, Canada
  • Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France
  • 1998
  • Landesmuseum Joanneum, Graz, Austria
  • 1999
  • National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany
  • Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany
  • 2003
  • Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Ohio, Usa
  • 2004
  • Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England, London, England