Life always presents us with unexpected meetings, and I am delighted that my path crossed with the one of Andreina Brengola, a rather unconventional and distinctive Venetian jewelry designer.
Today I want to introduce you to her work and her incredible space.
Here below our brief conversation:
1. Tell us a little something about yourself
I was born and raised in Venice. My mother is from here, whereas my father was born in Casablanca and traveled a lot for work. His father, my grandad, was from Naples and used to play the cello and music must have been running through their veins, because my dad eventually became a violinist and worked at the Fenice Theatre. I have the feeling I took after my dad... I remember I would spend hours looking at his hands moving and playing his instrument and was so fascinated by the naturalness and elegance of his gestures. I always felt the need to move my hands too and as a child I was creating objects with all sorts of materials. Unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to study music and as a teenager I went to a science school. I was putting my best efforts, but through all those years... I know now I was feeling uneasy and not truly happy. I kept creating objects in my free time, but it was when I had my two children that my passion took over me! We would play every day and create from scratch using modeling clay first and then fimo clay. I preferred fimo because when you cook it it remains hard and you obtain a finished object. These games were getting a bit too serious, as I would keep creating even when my kids had gone to bed! I was working in a lovely place, I had an office job at the time. My colleagues were lovely and the environment interesting... but it was not what I wanted deep in my heart. I had a temporary contract, so at one point they offered me a life-long contract and ... well, I handed in my notice the following day! I knew I could not lie to myself, so I took the courage to try open my own business. And this is how it started...
2. Did you open a shop?
I was already creating lots of jewelry and many women were in love with them and wanted to buy them. The mother of a girl in the same class as my daughter offered me to open a shop together, so for a short period of time I did have a shop. It was not her main job so I was there most days and, to be quite honest with you, I love the creative side of designing jewelry but I am really not keen at all on the marketing aspects. Selling is not my art and I was not feeling comfortable, besides it was taking too much of my time and I could not focus on designing and creating as much as I wanted. After this experience, I shared some spaces with other creatives. Then my husband opened a design shop and I helped him. I was one of the designers, but I was also doing a lot of other work so I was still missing something. At one point, I just decided to have my own studio and work only by appointment. This was not an easy choice, but it has been paying off because I can feel relaxed and focus on my work and when a person comes to visit my studio, we have a human exchange that goes beyond the sale. I can show them how I work and share with them my process. It is hard to explain, but this choice has given me the possibility to meet wonderful people.
3. All your jewels are in aluminium and stretchy steel threads. Have you stopped using fimo clay? I haven't stopped using fimo entirely, but I confess I have fallen in love with these industrial metals and now they are definitely predominant in my work. I 'discovered' them at a trade fair and decided I wanted to play with them, so ... they have become my new obsession. I buy aluminium chains and deconstruct them and then I assemble them together in a new shape. I don't draw a design first, I let my hands express freely... I think this child in me has saved me! I never get tired of playing. I create new shapes, sometimes a new design can remain in standby for a while until I have the inspiration and make a finished piece of jewelry. I like these materials because they are very lightweight and even with important necklaces, bracelets and earrings... well they remain comfortable to wear. Besides, I find these industrial tones work well on all skin types and enhance the people who wear them.
4. Where can people find your jewelry? In Venice, at the DFS Fondaco dei Tedeschi and in the bookshops of most museums. Then, of course, online on my website. But what gives me the greatest joy is having people in my studio. They can write me and I will open my doors and welcome them into my world.
For a couple of years I was also in the shop of the Art and Design Museum of New York, a wonderful experience I will never forget. I remember the curator writing me and inviting me to participate in a trade exhibition. I was so excited to go to New York and everything was so great. After the show, they asked me if I was interested in having some of my jewelry at the bookshop of the museum and I felt honored. Some years later, a lady who had come to the show sent me an email because her daughter had graduated and was starting to do job interviews and she wanted to gift her one of my pieces because, she wrote, they make a woman feel strong and free... I almost cried, I found it such a touching phrase and felt very emotional.
5. Your studio! What an amazing space, let's talk about it.
My studio is located in Fondamenta dei Tolentini. I found it in December 2020... as soon as I saw the space I just fell in love with it and seized the occasion! I am officially here since February 2021 and I love it so much that it has extended to being my studio to practically being my home. Years ago it was used for meditation classes, but the incredible garden outside was abandoned. So my husband and I took care of it, removed all the weeds, planted flowers and herbs and now... well, we consider it our paradise. We can see the back and the columns of the Tolentini church, it is quiet and the light is incredible. We have a fruit tree and seeing the birds pickle and play...it's so delightful.
This is why I want to share this beauty with others. I work with closed doors, but in an OPEN SPACE where anyone curious about my story, my technique and my designs is more than welcome.
I am so grateful for the time Andreina dedicated to me and it was such a relaxing experience to visit her studio. The space is magical, she is lovely and her jewelry is unique, elegant and modern at the same time. I love her and her work and I strongly recommend contacting her for a private visit of her studio!
AB- Andreina Brengola email: info@andreinabrengola.com
phone: +39 3394963749 address: F.ta dei Tolentini 180/A, 30135 Venezia (VE) website: https://andreinabrengola.com/
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