Jean Grisoni

Born on the shores of the Mediterranean sea and based in Paris, self taught artist Jean Grisoni began his career working in graphic design and typography prior to rising to the position of art director for various esteemed Paris agencies. He later opened his own consulting agency in visual communication serving cultural institutions and prestigious Avenue Montaigne and Place Vendôme brands. A 1989 collaboration with the Paris Mint precipitated his journey in the art of jewelry design, and in 2000 he dedicated his studio to unique pieces and small editions made by hand. Inspired by his Mediterranean homeland and discarded items he collects walking on the beach, Grisoni’s work explores contrasts, textures and ambiance with a focus on the unique qualities of his materials. Irregular metal surfaces inlaid with gemstones or lacquered with expressive drips of gold leaf; patinated bronze in natural, black, or turquoise formed into minimalist structures, geometric lines, and carved symbols: his pieces radiate a refined simplicity balanced with a surplus of rough hewn beauty. With offerings ranging from furnishings to kitchenware, jewelry and small silver items often created using nothing but a hammer and anvil, Grisoni’s work envisions an ideal of ascetic romanticism, blending the richness of natural elements and cultural heritage that steep the region of his life and work. Grisoni’s work has appeared at galleries in Beirut, Lausanne, London, New York, Osaka, Paris, and Tokyo and been featured at Design Miami, Collectible I Design Fair in Brussels, and the Museum of Art and Design in New York. He has been the subject of several publications: Chaînes (2015), Promenades en Méditerranées (2007), Le Design Précieux de Jean Grisoni (2003), Brutalité Raffinée, Bronze (2018), and Bronze 2 (2019).