The Met and Vacheron Constantin Have Their Eyes on These Three Rising Stars
The Met and Vacheron Constantin launch a global residency spotlighting three artisans set to shape the future of craft and cultural heritage.
In a remarkable convergence of heritage and contemporary artistry, Vacheron Constantin and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York have announced the launch of the Artisan Residency programme.
This 18-month initiative invites global artisans to reinterpret traditional crafts for a new era, supporting cultural continuity through innovation, excellence and exchange.
The programme, which highlights both institutions' commitment to preserving and evolving craftsmanship, was unveiled during a special event at The Met Cloisters in celebration of Vacheron Constantin’s 270th anniversary.
From a wide international pool of applicants, three finalists have been selected for their exceptional technical mastery and creative originality.
Throughout the residency, each will engage in research, creation and public presentation, with immersive experiences in both New York and Geneva. Their journey will culminate in October 2026 with the unveiling of new works at The Met.
The three artisans chosen for the inaugural residency are Aspen Golann (USA), a furniture maker; Ibrahim Said (Egypt), a ceramicist; and Joy Harvey (Italy), a jeweller.
Each brings a singular approach to their discipline, shaped by deep respect for heritage and a desire to reshape it.
Aspen Golann reimagines classic American furniture forms to explore themes of power, identity and tradition. Trained in 17th to 19th-century woodworking, she blends historical technique with a contemporary voice.
She is also the founder of The Chairmaker’s Toolbox, an initiative promoting equity and accessibility in the craft, and teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Ibrahim Said, raised in a family of potters in Cairo’s historic Fustat district, carries forward Egypt’s ancient ceramic legacy.
Drawing on the aesthetic language of traditional Islamic and Egyptian forms, his work pushes the boundaries of clay through structural experimentation and refined surface treatment, offering a fresh perspective on a millennia-old art.
Joy Harvey’s background in chemistry deeply informs her artistic process. Based in Florence, she blends Armenian goldsmithing with traditional Florentine techniques, crafting pieces that explore philosophical themes such as imperfection, time and the human experience of ageing.
Her work fuses ancient methods with contemporary introspection, producing jewellery that is both personal and conceptually resonant.
Structured in three phases, the residency begins with research. The artisans will study The Met’s collection and archives while observing Vacheron Constantin’s master artisans in Geneva, gaining insight into fine watchmaking and decorative crafts including enamelling, guillochage, engraving and gem-setting.
In the second phase, each artisan will design and produce an original work, supported by mentoring and logistical assistance.
Finally, the residency will conclude with a public presentation at The Met, accompanied by workshops and community engagement programmes.
This initiative is part of a broader cultural alliance formed in 2023 between Vacheron Constantin and The Met.
Among other projects, the partnership includes the ‘Masterpiece on Your Wrist’ programme, which allows collectors to collaborate with Vacheron Constantin’s Les Cabinotiers workshop in creating one-of-a-kind timepieces featuring enamel reproductions of artworks from The Met’s collection.
For Vacheron Constantin, the residency also reflects a deep-rooted philosophy of mentorship, dating back to 1755 when founder Jean-Marc Vacheron signed his first apprentice.
Today, that legacy continues through meaningful partnerships that support craftsmanship not only as tradition but as a living, evolving form of cultural expression.
