ABOUT
Naomi Rachel Muirhead is an artist and designer who makes jewelry and collages utilizing vintage ephemera, Italian maps, letters, photos, watch parts, game pieces, found objects, and other materials, re-purposed for a new life while honoring the past imprint of the object's history. Each piece is unique, hand-made, and can be customized.
Her jewelry has been sold in stores, galleries, pop-ups, and open studios including: the Legion of Honor Museum Gift Shop (San Francisco), Artefact Design & Salvage (Sonoma), MIO Concept Store (Florence), OPIFICIOJm (Prato), Gallery MC (NYC), and Villa Verone (Chicago).
Originally from the Chicago area, she has also resided in Madrid, Seattle, San Francisco, and lives and works in Florence, Italy since 2000 where she teaches university-level jewelry courses. She has degrees in painting, interior architecture, jewelry arts, and has exhibited and sold her work in the US and Europe. See CV below.
After studying fine arts and interior architecture, I fell into jewelry making and loved the hand-work, design, and intimate scale so much that I now concentrate on this media. I learned fabrication skills in Florence, Italy, where I also teach courses and workshops for anyone who is interested in learning about how to make art jewelry.
Making jewelry and objects from semi-precious metals, stones, and non-precious found materials has culminated from my interest in design and my need to make things with my hands. The aesthetics I use are the same throughout all of my work, most importantly the combination, coordination, composition, and collaboration between old and new.
Many pieces have grown out of a challenge to use materials or objects that I have found and collected. I aim to recycle and re-purpose objects to give them a new life in a different context. When I come across something that attracts or interests me, I think…what can I do with this? When I find a solution, the piece is created and built around the object. It is both architecture and collage on a miniature scale. These pieces are less about the traditional craft of jewelry making and more about creating intimate objects that have a narrative to tell and can be worn and shared with others. Unlike an art work on a wall in a home, jewelry can directly interact with the wearer’s lifestyle.
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION:
2016
ALCHIMIA - Florence, Italy
Pigments on Metal: Exploring Pigments and Gold Leaf on Metal Workshop (15 hours) taught by Lucia Massei.
2000 - 2004
ART STUDIO FUJI - Florence, Italy
Metals: Jewelry Making
2000
STUDIO ARTS COLLEGE INTERNATIONAL (SACI) - Florence, Italy
Spring semester foreign studies program for credit (NASAD Accredited)
1998 - 2000
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF ARTS (CCA) - San Francisco, CA
Interior Architecture Degree: BFA with High Honors (FIDER and NASAD Accredited)
1997
PRATT ART CENTER - Seattle, Washington
PHOTOGRAPHIC CENTER SCHOOL - Seattle, Washington
Photography Workshops
1989 - 1993
ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY (IWU) - Bloomington, Illinois
School of Art: BFA Painting Major, Spanish Minor (3.4/4.0 GPA)
*Four-year Alumni Talent Scholarship
1992
INSTITUTE OF EUROPEAN STUDIES (IES) - Madrid, Spain
Spring semester Foreign Studies Program
1989
SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE (SAIC) - Chicago, Illinois
COLUMBIA COLLEGE - Chicago, Illinois
Early College Programs
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2024
PERSONAL NARRATIVE SPACES International Juried Group Exhibition for Inflow - Ferenczy Museum: Szentendre and Hybridart Space Gallery: Budapest, Hungary
2021
ARTIFACTURAL Solo Exhibition Tiche Synergia: Florence, Italy
CARRIED LANDSCAPES Group Exhibition Curated by Kim Collmer - Q18 Galerie: Cologne, Germany
2020
AZUL/BLUE Group Exhibition Curated by Karen Graffeo - University of Montevallo: Montevallo, AL
2018
THE FILO OF THE OTHERS Group Exhibition - SACI Gallery: Florence, Italy
2017
BLUE Group Exhibition Curated by Karen Graffeo - Lowe Mill Arts: Huntsville, AL
CELEBRATING THE ART OF PAPER Juried Group Exhibition - Carneal Building: Selma, AL
2015
CREATIVE CITIES Installation for Florence Design Week - White Garage: Florence, Italy
REBELS & ROSES Collective Exhibition - Sara Amrhein Studio: Florence, Italy
SACI FACULTY EXHIBITION - SACI Gallery: Florence, Italy
INSIDE-OUT: Contemporary Perspectives - Palazzo Belfiore: Florence, Italy
2014
WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN: Art Against Domestic Violence - Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights: Florence, Italy
MAKETANK - Mostra Internazionale dell'Artigianato: Fortezza da Basso - Florence, Italy
2013
SWING SWEET SONGS OF CONVICTION - Gallery MC: New York, NY
OVARIAN CANCER NATIONAL ALLIANCE: Exhibition and Auction Benefit - Anthropologie: New York, NY
2012
EMBODIMENT International Jewelry Exhibition, Curated by Katie MacDonald + Anne Mondro - Jean Paul Slusser Gallery: Ann Arbor, MI
ART QUESTIONS RAGE International Women's Exhibition & Symposium - Dogus University: Istanbul, Turkey
CANDIANO FOUNDATION Exhibition and Auction Benefit for Onlus Association, Sierra Leone- Aria Gallery: Florence, Italy
THE FILO OF THE OTHERS Group Exhibition - Jules Maidoff Gallery: Florence, Italy
2011
F-UTILY Jewelry & Artists’ Book Exhibition & Auction Benefit for Emergency - Le Murate: Florence, Italy
TUTTO: Group Exhibition - Galleria Tannaz: Florence, Italy
NINE WINE 2011 COLLECTION for Pitti Uomo 80 - Doni & Associati Showroom: Florence, Italy
2010
SACI FACULTY EXHIBITION - SACI Gallery: Florence, Italy
SOLO SHOW - Installation of Furniture, Collages, & Jewelry - Société Anonyme: Florence, Italy
2009
JEWELRY EXHIBITION - Fuji Studios: Florence, Italy
2008
SCATTI DIVINI - Juried Group Photography Exhibition - Principato di Monaco: Monte Carlo, France
SACI FACULTY Traveling Exhibition 2006-2008 - SACI Gallery: Florence, Italy
2007
SACI FACULTY Traveling Exhibition 2006-2008 - L'Albero Celeste Art Gallery: San Gimignano, Italy
OLEOVAGANDO - Juried Group Photography Exhibition - Palazzo Medici Riccardi: Florence, Italy
GIOVANE ARTE EUROPEA - Galleria La Pergola Arte: Florence, Italy
LIJALENT 2007 - Artist Colony Group Exhibition: Maribor, Slovenia
JEWELRY TRUNK SHOW - Appel & Frank: San Francisco, CA
THE FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS - Exhibition of SACI Alumni, Faculty, & Artists Council at the Sallander O'Reilly Galleries, NYC
2006
SACI FACULTY Traveling Exhibition 2006-2008: 9 US Universities: USA
SCATTIDIVINI - Juried Group Photography Exhibition - Palazzo Medici Riccardi: Florence, Italy
SCATTIDIVINI - Juried Group Photography Exhibition - Museo di San Francesco: Montefalco (Perugia), Italy
ARTE DELLA LETTURA - 25° Premio Letterario Boccaccio, Palazzo Pretorio: Certaldo (FI), Italy
SOLO SHOW - MODO: Florence, Italy
SACI 30th ANNIVERSARY ALUMNI PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION - Studio Art Centers International: Florence, Italy
2005
RITROVATI/FOUND AGAIN - SOLO EXHIBITION - Studio Art Centers International: Florence, Italy
JEWELRY TRUNK SHOW - Appel & Frank: San Francisco, CA
JEWELRY EXHIBITION - Fuji Studios: Florence, Italy
JEWELRY IN EXPOSITION - Galleria Zerotre: Orvieto, Italy
2004
SOLO SHOW - 98rosso: Florence, Italy
SOLO SHOW - News Cafe: Florence, Italy
2003
SACI WOMEN IN THE ARTS FACULTY EXHIBITION - Studio Art Centers International: Florence, Italy
GRADUATE RETROSPECTIVE: INTERIOR DESIGN - California College of Arts and Crafts: San Francisco, CA
JEWELRY EXHIBITION - Fuji Studios: Florence, Italy
2002
SOLO SHOW - Enoteca de'Giraldi: Florence, Italy
GROUP SHOW - KUZU, Toni & Guy: Florence, Italy
PERSPECTIVES ON PERU - Mt. Mary College Faculty Art Show with Invited Artists: Milwaukee, WI
REMNANTS/RIMANENZE (2 person exhibition) - Studio Art Centers International: Florence, Italy
JEWELRY EXHIBITION - Fuji Studios: Florence, Italy
SACI FACULTY EXHIBITION - United States Embassy Gallery: Florence, Italy
2001
CONTUSCANART: KEN'S GALLERY EXHIBITION - United States Embassy Gallery: Florence, Italy
PREMIO INTERNAZIONALE CATERINA DE'MEDICI UNICEF BENEFIT - Palagio di Parte Guelfa: Florence, Italy
MOMENTOS: SOLO SHOW - Bar Nabucco: Florence, Italy
NEW ARTISTS - Ken's Art Gallery: Florence, Italy
SOJOURN/SOGGIORNO - Studio Art Centers International (SACI): Florence, Italy
2000
THESIS EXHIBITION - California College of Arts and Crafts: San Francisco, CA
STUDENT EXHIBITION - Studio Art Centers International: Florence, Italy
STUDENT EXHIBITION - Fuji Studios: Florence, Italy
1999
FIDER EXHIBITION - California College of Arts and Crafts: San Francisco, CA
1998
NEW PAINTINGS - Alibi Room: Seattle, WA
EMBELLISHMENTS - Found Objects: Seattle, WA
TRAVEL JOURNAL PHOTOGRAPHS - Atlas: Seattle, WA
PAINTINGS FOR INTERIORS - Modelle's: Seattle, WA
4th ANNUAL PUSHPIN PHOTO EXHIBITION - FotoCircle Gallery: Seattle, WA
1997
DOMUS DECAS - The Card Cafe: Seattle, WA
3rd ANNUAL PUSHPIN PHOTO EXHIBITION - FotoCircle Gallery: Seattle, WA
OPEN INVITATION SHOW - Photographic Center Gallery: Seattle, WA
1996 - 1998
PAINTINGS - Found Objects: Seattle, WA
1995
WOMEN IN LEAD GROUP SHOW - Lead Gallery: Seattle, WA
WROUGHT WORKS - The Whole Sky Gallery: Seattle, WA
FOLIE A DEUX - Center on Contemporary Art: Seattle, WA
LOVE FOR SALE - Lead Gallery: Seattle, WA
1994
PAINTINGS - Found Objects: Seattle, WA
HOLIDAY STORE - Center on Contemporary Art: Seattle, WA
NEW PAINTINGS (Solo Show) - Cafe Voltaire: Chicago, IL
1993
PAINTINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS (Solo Show) - Cafe Voltaire: Chicago, IL
66th ANNUAL McLEAN COUNTY EXHIBITION - McLean Co. Arts Center: Bloomington, IL
*First Place Photography Award
BFA SENIOR ART EXHIBITION - IWU School of Art, Merwin Gallery: Bloomington, IL
SMALL WORKS - Contemporary Arts Center: Arlington Heights, IL
1992
5th ANNUAL STUDENT EXHIBITION - IWU School of Art, Wakely Gallery: Bloomington, IL
*President's Award
65th ANNUAL McLEAN COUNTY EXHIBITION - McLean Co. Arts Center: Bloomington, IL
1991
4th ANNUAL STUDENT EXHIBITION - IWU School of Art, Wakely Gallery: Bloomington, IL
CAMPBELL HOUSE ART EXHIBITION - Campbell House Art Center: Geneva, IL
ELGIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE 8TH ANNUAL WORKS ON PAPER - ECC: Elgin, IL
BIG IDEAS, SMALL WORKS - Contemporary Arts Center: Arlington Heights, IL
RECENT WORKS (Solo Show) - Quadrant: Chicago, IL
1990
3rd ANNUAL STUDENT EXHIBITION - IWU School of Art, Wakely Gallery: Bloomington, IL
*Art Coop Award
63rd ANNUAL McLEAN COUNTY EXHIBITION - McLean Co. Arts Center: Bloomington, IL
EXHIBITIONS CURATED:
2016
FROM GALILEO TO MARS: Renaissance of the Art Sciences Exhibition - SACI Gallery: Florence, Italy
2010
SACI FACULTY EXHIBITION - SACI Gallery: Florence, Italy
2009
STUDY ABROAD, ITALY: Juried Photography Competition celebrating 30th anniversary of the Association of American College and University Programs in Italy (AACUPI) - SACI Gallery: Florence, Italy
2006
SACI FACULTY Traveling Exhibition 2006-2008 – 9 SACI Consortium Universities in the USA
30th Anniversary Alumni Photography Exhibition - Studio Art Centers International: Florence, Italy
End of Term Student Exhibition - Studio Art Centers International: Florence, Italy
Photographs by Marcia Keegan - Studio Art Centers International: Florence, Italy
2003
227th Anniversario dell'Indipendenza Americana - The Consulate General of the USA, Firenze, Italy
CONTIGUO - Studio Art Centers International: Florence, Italy
2001
SOJOURN/SOGGIORNO - Studio Art Centers International: Florence, Italy
1990 - present
Installation of numerous exhibitions in the IWU Wakely Gallery (Bloomington, IL), Linda Hodges Gallery (Seattle, WA), SACI Gallery (Florence, Italy), and various solo exhibitions.
RESIDENCES:
2007
The 9th Annual International Art Colony: Maribor, Slovenia
AWARDS:
California College of Arts President's Circle: 1998-2000
Board Member of the Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle: 1996-1998
IWU Dean's List and IWU Alumni Scholarship: 1989-1993
President's Award: 1992 Juried Student Art Exhibition
Art Coop Award: 1990 Juried Student Art Exhibition
Alpha Lambda Delta (Freshman Women's Honor Society): 1989
PUBLICATIONS/PRESS:
Storytelling Through Jewelry: An Interview with Naomi Muirhead of art925, Creative People of Florence, 2021
The historical roots inspiring contemporary jewelers, The Florentine, September, 2021
Lost in Florence, Nardia Plumridge, (feature in published travel guide), Hardie Grant Books, 2019
Spotlight: Naomi Muirhead, Creative People of Florence, 2015
Gioielleria tra passato e presente, Hestetika Magazine (Milan), April 2013
Vocabulary of Ideas, New Italian Jewellery Collection by art925, Designboom, January 2013
Art Questions Rage – 2012 International Women's Exhibition & Symposium Catalog, edited by Prof. Nazan Erkmen, Dogus University, Istanbul, Turkey, 2012
Pitti, Vino e Moda: allo Studio Doni appuntamento giovedì 16 per un light lunch e poi dalle 19:30 con i gioielli di Naomi Rachel Muirhead, Vino da Burdo, June 14, 2011
Il gioiello fa una dedica al vino, Laura Villoresi, Corriere Fiorentino, June 16, 2011
Daily Accessories Magazine No. 3, September 2009, High Publisher (Italy)
Emerald Magazine, A Green San Francisco Bay Area Fashion Reference, edited by Jennifer Kaufmann, Bacchus Press, June 2009
Oleovagano; Oil in Images Exhibition Catalog, by Demetria Verduci & Duccio Trassinelli, Carlo Cambi Editore, Florence; 2007, p. 62, 123
La Pergola Arte Artisti 2007, Artist catalog, edited by Michael Musone with criticism by Prof. Federico Napoli; 2007
Lijalent 2007, Exhibition catalog, by Mario Berdic; 2007
Glance, California College of Arts magazine; Spring 2007
Italian pieces on display as part of exchange, by Kaizaad Kotwal, The Columbus Dispatch; March 25, 2007
Exhibit features Italian art and travel, by Nicole Sciotto, The Daily Collegian (PENN State University); March 1, 2007
SACI faculty exhibit work, by Allison Alfonso, GoTricities.com; February 7, 2007
Scattidivini: Wine in Images Exhibition Catalog, by Demetria Verduci & Duccio Trassinelli, Le Lettere, Florence; 2006, p. 152
Scattidivini: 26/04/2006 De-vine photographs, earth and colours of our land. 108 photographs on wine, its ability to speak of itself and to us. The nectar of modern gods. Web video on www.florence.tv
SACI Newsletter: SACI & Italy, Then & Now; Fall 2006, No. 35
SACI Newsletter: Alumni News; Spring 2005, No. 32
Premio Celeste Catologo 2005: Galleria d'Arte L'Albero Celeste; Fall 2005
Abroad View Magazine Kaleidoscope: ITALIAN ART: Get inspired - Naomi Muirhead creates innovative collages in Italy: Fall 2004
SACI Newsletter: Alumni Success Stories; Fall 2004, No. 31
METROPOLI, Firenze; Anno 11, n. 33; venerdí 20 settembre 2002, p.7
Chicago Sun-Times, Weekend Plus (photo on cover, p. 47); February 23, 1996
The Rocket: November 1995
Cafe Voltaire Newsletter: 1994, 1993
Chicago Reader (photo); January 15, 1993
McLean County Community News; March 3-9, 1993
Still (photo) - IWU Journal of the Arts; 1993
IWU School of Art Brochure (photo); 1990
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
2003 - 2020
STUDIO ARTS COLLEGE INTERNATIONAL (SACI) - Florence, Italy
Instructor of Jewelry Making courses for university level students.
2002
ARTE SOTTO UN TETTO (ART UNDER ONE ROOF) - Florence, Italy - Instructor of Boutique & Furniture Design course for international university level students.
2000 - 2002
STUDIO ARTS COLLEGE INTERNATIONAL (SACI) - Florence, Italy
Teaching Assistant for Interior Design, Painting, Drawing, and Photography courses for university level American students. Taught Photography Workshop: Alternative Image Making and other classes.
OTHER RELATED EXPERIENCE:
2006 - 2017
SACI GALLERY / MAIDOFF GALLERY Gallery Coordinator - Florence, Italy
1998 - 2000
COCA Board Member of the Center on Contemporary Art - Seattle, WA
1994 - 1996
LINDA HODGES GALLERY Assistant Director - Seattle, WA
1994
SEATTLE ART MUSEUM Intern - Seattle, WA
1993
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART Intern: Public Relations - Chicago, IL
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART Intern: Department of Education - New York, NY
COLLECTIONS:
Alice So: San Francisco, CA
Cafe Voltaire: Chicago, IL
Central High School: Burlington, IL
Dr. Grey Vogelmann, D.D.S. Dental Office: Chicago, IL
Eastside Domestic Violence Program Auction (Donation): Bellevue, WA
Illinois Wesleyan University Foreign Language Dept.: Bloomington, IL
World Wide Travel: Chicago, IL
Enoteca dei Giraldi: Florence, Italy
Numerous Private Collections