Fifth Annual Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award Winner
Meghan Simmons, a graduate of GIA’s Jewelry Design program at the Carlsbad campus, received the fifth annual Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design. The award was presented at the GIA Alumni Collective’s “Night at the Museum” event held during the AGTA GemFair Tucson. One of 11 finalists, Simmons competed against more than 80 students from GIA’s seven campuses. Her winning earring design (see above), inspired by the abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky, emphasizes the use of line and shape with gold, diamonds, and blue sapphires.
Simmons will spend a week in Italy, traveling from Florence to Venice to Milan, and will meet with a representative from the foundation.
Larry French, chief officer of North American strategies for the foundation, said, “This competition was born out of the life and work of Gianmaria Buccellati. We congratulate not only all the students who participated in this year’s design competition but also the talented instructors from GIA who guided the students on this beautiful art.”
The 2022 Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design competition is underway and open to students in GIA’s Jewelry Design courses who meet the eligibility requirements. For more information, visit gia.edu/buccellati-foundation-award-jewelry-design.
