The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has partnered with Swiss luxury watchmaker Vacheron Constantin to launch a new artist residency program focused on traditional craftsmanship and artisanal techniques. Officially announced on June 6, the 18-month initiative will provide selected artists with access to the Met’s collections and staff, along with opportunities to collaborate with master artisans at Vacheron Constantin’s headquarters in Geneva.
Three artists have been selected for the inaugural cycle of the Artisan Residency initiative: American furniture maker Aspen Golann, Egyptian ceramicist Ibrahim Said, and British-Italian jewelry designer Joy Harvey. Their residency will culminate in October 2026 with an exhibition of new works at the Met.
“This initiative embodies our mutual commitment to artistic innovation and cultural dialogue,” said Max Hollein, the Met’s director and chief executive, in a statement. He described the selected artists as “remarkably skilled practitioners who breathe new life into traditional techniques.”
Golann, based in New Hampshire and an educator at the Rhode Island School of Design, specializes in American furniture-making techniques from the 17th to 19th centuries. Her multidisciplinary practice uses these historical methods to explore themes of labor, gender, and power through drawings, functional objects, and furniture.
Said, who hails from Fustat, Egypt, learned pottery from his father as part of a lineage of ceramic artisans. His contemporary work reinterprets the forms and techniques of ancient Egyptian ceramic vessels, merging tradition with a modern—and occasionally futuristic—sculptural style.
Harvey, originally trained as a chemist, transitioned to jewelry design nearly a decade ago. In 2021, she co-founded the Rimini-based studio La Luce with Marco Rossi. The studio is committed to sustainability, using 100% fair-mined gold and silver, and sourcing only traceable gemstones and diamonds.
“The Met believes deeply in the power of art to ignite curiosity and redefine artistic and cultural boundaries,” said Heidi Holder, chair of education at the museum. “This residency is a testament to that belief, offering artisans access to our collection, scholarly resources, and the expertise of Met scientists, curators, and educators to inspire the reimagining of traditional craft knowledge for future generations.”
