Irene Griegst’s legacy takes centre stage in Copenhagen this summer

During Scandinavia’s leading design week, 3daysofdesign, Griegst told an intimate story – offering a powerful tribute to Irene Griegst, the visionary artist whose playful, poetic and painterly jewellery has enchanted collectors and creatives for decades.

Held at the brand’s Holbergsgade space in Copenhagen, the exhibition – which runs throughout this summer – marks a milestone moment for the house: the first major solo showcase dedicated to namesake founder Irene Griegst since her passing in 2023. Curated by Mentze Ottenstein, the exhibition gathered a breathtaking selection of archival works from the 1970s to the early 2000s, alongside newly produced pieces that revisit her signature motifs: birds, florals, filigree, and folkloric whimsy.

Irene Griegst’s work has long challenged the boundaries between decorative art and fine art. Each piece tells a story, rich with symbolism, memory, and personal mythology. From intricate filigree and delicate goldwork to vibrant enamel, pearls, and naturally shaped gemstones, her jewellery merges Middle Eastern decorative traditions with Nordic design clarity, creating wearable works of visual poetry.

Her aesthetic language draws on a life lived across continents. Growing up in Casablanca, Irene was captivated by the fine embroidery found in Moroccan women’s garments, a craft she later reinterpreted in her jewellery, famously describing the process as “sewing with gold thread.” That golden thread weaves through her entire body of work, gathering precious stones, coral, enamel, and delicate gold sheets into compositions that feel both ancient and entirely new.

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The exhibition spans both archival works and newly produced pieces that revisit historical styles and themes, offering a richly detailed journey through Griegst’s artistic universe. It inaugurates a new chapter for the house, which now seeks to present the works of both Irene and her late husband, Arje Griegst, as part of a unified legacy. Future exhibitions will continue this conversation between their two creative worlds, ensuring their visions resonate with both longstanding admirers and new audiences alike.

Timed to coincide with 3DaysofDesign, Denmark’s leading design festival, the exhibition made the Holbergsgade space an essential stop for anyone interested in jewellery, design, and craftsmanship. Beyond a simple retrospective, it cast Irene Griegst’s artistry in a new light: not only as a jeweller of rare technical skill, but as a storyteller whose pieces continue to inspire curiosity, wonder, and delight.

Born in Casablanca, trained in Jerusalem and Paris, and ultimately settling in Copenhagen, Irene Griegst brought a unique confluence of cultures and crafts to her work. Moroccan embroidery, Middle Eastern filigree, and Nordic minimalism danced together in her creations – this jewellery “sewn” from gold thread, shimmering with precious stones and poetic energy.

While she is perhaps best known for her delicate earrings, the exhibition revealed another side to Griegst's artistry: ornate tiaras, playful brooches, and one-of-a-kind sculptural pieces, many never before shown to the public. Together, they formed a portrait not just of an artist, but of a woman whose life was filled with light, joy, and the storytelling magic of 1001 Nights.

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And of course, it wouldn’t be a Griegst occasion without a little sparkle after hours. To celebrate the opening, the house gathered friends, family, and the design world’s best-dressed – Rotate’s Jeanette Madsen, stylist Pernille Teisbaek, and artist Tal R among them – for a lively soirée that quickly became one of 3daysofdesign’s standout gatherings.

Proof, that even in legacy, the Griegst spirit is alive, well, and ready to dance.

See all the snapshots from the opening night below.