On Friday, the 6th March, The Glasgow School of Art’s Silversmith & Jewellery Department (S&J) presented a performative pop-up exhibition as part of the inaugural SCHMUCK München Student Summit. Hosted by Die Neue Sammlung, one of the worlds leading design museums, the event saw over 40 jewellery classes from all over the world, covering 24 different countries, come together to celebrate the future of young contemporary jewellery. The GSA’s Silversmith & Jewellery department, alongside the Royal College of Art, was one of only two institutions from the UK invited to showcase at this year’s event and the sole UK undergraduate course represented.
The GSA appeared at the invitation of Die Neue Sammlung, presenting undergraduate designs by 14 Silversmith & Jewellery students as part of this historic 1st International Summit of Jewellery Classes.
Rather than a conventional display, S&J staged an interactive procession within the museum. Students modelled their own jewellery, inviting conversation, exchange, and connection in an open, live, and collective presentation. United by a contemporary interpretation of a traditional Scottish sash incorporating GSA identity, the group entered the space to the sound of traditional Scottish bagpipes, creating a striking visual and audible presence beneath the 25-metre-high glass-domed rotunda within the main hall of the Pinakothek der Moderne, which houses the design museum.
GSA’s students wore their individual works pinned to a specially designed GSA sash (crafted and printed at the Centre for Advanced Textiles) bearing both the hallmark of the GSA and the GSA’s official coat of arms, drawn from historical designs held by GSA Archives and Collections.
The individual artist’s works were developed in response to Glasgow, particularly the anniversary marking 850 years since the city gained Burgh status in 1175. Through jewellery and object-making, students explored the people, architecture, industrial heritage, and distinct sense of place that shape the city. The resulting brooches offer personal interpretations of Glasgow’s past, present, and imagined futures.
Work by Year 3 undergraduates from the four-year BA (Hons) Silversmithing & Jewellery Design programme was presented alongside pieces by tutors, artists in residence, and final-year students.
GSA’s contributing artists:
Year 3 students – Yasi Bazmanesh, Scarlett Chapman, Bella Hunter, Scout Knight, Lucy McGhee, Kirsty Murdoch, Emma Murray, Tallulah Sheehan, Emma Smith, Tara Tanetvitayavet, Polly Thompson, Zeke Thomson, Faith Wylie, Xuan Zhang,
Year 4 – Liatris Yaxuan Bian.
Artist in Residence & 2025 graduate : Tina Avery,
Artist in Residence & 2024 graduate : Milly Milenkova,
Professor Stephen Bottomley : Head of the School of Design
Andrew Lamb : Lecturer, Silversmith & Jewellery
Michael Pell – Lecturer, Silversmith & Jewellery.
For further information, please contact press@gsa.ac.uk.
About The Glasgow School of Art (GSA)
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) is internationally recognised as one of Europe’s leading independent university-level institutions for education and research in the visual creative disciplines. Our studio-based, specialist, practice-led teaching, learning and research draw talented individuals with a shared passion for visual culture and creative production from all over the world.
Originally founded in 1845 as one of the first Government Schools of Design, the School’s history can be traced back to 1753 and the establishment of the Foulis Academy delivering a European-style art education. Today, the GSA is an international community of over 3500 students and staff across architecture, design, fine art, innovation and technology in our campuses in Glasgow and Altyre (in the Scottish Highlands) and a thriving Open Studio programme delivering non-degree provision to over 1500 students annually.
