As a platform for clients and artists we would like to introduce a large variety of important international jewellery, all unique pieces. We would also like to accompany our artists in their development and offer to our clients competent advice and individual time. To us, the singular piece of jewellery- the limited edition of six pieces world wide- guarantees convincing artistic achievement. With this premise we would like to define our gallery as a gallery of contemporary applied arts and thus promise to international clients, collectors and museums as well as to the Austrian gallery scene a highly interesting exhibition programme. Discussion, artistic exchange and communication as well as a particular attention to the aspect of qualitiy are our goals.
The Dictionnaire international du Bijou, published in Paris in 1998, describes Gallery Slavik as the place to look for works by today’s most important jewellery artists, all of whom are listed in the dictionary. This comprehensive book shows that art jewellery has finally been getting the enthusiastic attention it has long deserved from the perspective of art history as well. As an experienced gallerist, Renate Slavik explains this growing interest with collector’s and customers’ increasing desire to express their own personality, their unique nature. The singular piece of art jewellery has been chosen as the object perfectly suited to emphasising individuality. It corresponds with the zeitgeist. The approach of the new millennium, which coincides with the anniversary of the gallery, seems to be a phase in which people seek something beyond the ephemeral. This attitude is also evident in the work of contemporary jewellery artists, who stress the precise transformation of ideas which are relevant across time rather than briefly amusing, although the experimental and light-hearted approach has not been abandoned.		Claudia Jobst (Photo: Markus Lenzenhofer) From: Claudia Jobst: "Contemporary jewellery. Art to wear. Celebrating the tenth anniversary of Gallery Slavik." In:"." Edition Galerie Slavik. Vienna 1999 (Ed. Slavik KEG), p. 8.

Cornelie Holzach (Photo: C. Holzach) From: Cornelie Holzach: "Living for art jewellery." In: "Contemporary jewellery. Art to wear" Edition Galerie Slavik. Vienna 1999 (Ed. Slavik KEG), p. 11 and 14.

Today’s art jewellery reflects the attitude of the younger generation of jewellery artists towards the issues of the past: It is no longer a question of embracing or rejecting tradition, of assessing their work as art or merely craftsmanship, the artist’s concern is to produce good jewellery, their jewellery, and to use as a platform the experience of their predecessors, in many cases their teachers. Noteworthy as these events may be, the most enduring impact, enhancing the importance, the role and the development of contemporary jewellery art, is attained not through these channels, but rather through the activities of the museums and the continuous mediation and information work rendered by the art jewellery galleries. Here, the many small steps turn into huge strides towards a stage of development when contemporary jewellery art sheds its outsider image and becomes a natural and acknowledged part of our cultural life.

Please read more about the international scene of art jewellery and about the gallery and its tenth anniversary in our recent publication. 48 artists, all represented by our gallery, introduce their latest work. (ISBN 3-9501155-0-1)