Hidden Treasures: Strong & Precious Celebrates Sixth Participation at GemGenève

The Strong & Precious Art Foundation proudly marked its sixth consecutive participation at GemGenève, one of Europe’s leading gemstone and jewelry fairs. This year’s exhibition, titled Hidden Treasures, spotlighted eleven Ukrainian designers whose works explore themes of resilience, cultural identity, and artistic innovation — reaffirming the foundation’s growing presence on the global design scene.

As a charitable initiative, Strong & Precious is dedicated to nurturing Ukraine’s contemporary jewelry sector, empowering emerging talents, and preserving national heritage through design. 

The 2025 curation featured works by Julie Kleom, Olena Yastreb, Olga Vynogradova, Oleksandra Kuzenkova, Inesa Kovalova, Arevik Jewellery, Iryna Karpova, Jewelry Lab and Anna Scheideman, Aga.te, Anton Boyko. The group was selected from previous editions as well as through a national design competition, with four winners supported by the foundation to realize their visions.

A notable highlight of this year’s showcase was the collaboration with Ukrainian gemstone company Volyn Gems, which allowed designers to work with rare native stones such as topaz and beryl. Visitors were invited to discover the richness of Ukraine's Volyn stones and their unique beauty. The stones sparked conversations about Ukraine’s natural treasures. 

The exhibition displays were designed to symbolize hope and Ukrainian abundance. Inspired by natural forms, the booth featured structures resembling large white stone formations with green shoots emerging from them — a metaphor for the resilience and growth of Ukrainian culture and beauty even amidst hardship.

Pieces were praised for their museum-level significance by respected figures in the field. Notable visitors included Helen Molesworth, Curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Melanie Grant, renowned author and curator, as well as numerous editors, collectors, and jewelry influencers. Thanks to the continuous support of the Strong & Precious Art Foundation, jewelry pieces by Ukrainian designers have been acquired by some of the world's most distinguished private collections over the past years.

“This year felt especially warm and affirming,” noted Olga Oleksenko, the founder of Strong and precious. “There’s a deep sense of creative community at GemGenève, and we’re proud to bring the strength, artistry, and vision of Ukraine into that space.”- adds Inesa Kovalova, Program Director of the foundation. 

Looking forward, Strong & Precious remains committed to supporting new talent and continuing to accompany its alumni in their artistic growth. The foundation invites media, collectors, and cultural partners to join its mission: to amplify the voices of Ukrainian designers and elevate jewelry as a form of art and historical testimony.

“Supporting young talents is one of the most important missions of Strong & Precious,” emphasized Olga Oleksenko. “As an expert in the world of art and jewelry, I know how challenging it can be to enter this field. We are proud that our foundation has become a launch platform, giving new names the opportunity to emerge on the international stage and contribute to the cultural dialogue through jewelry.”