The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Swiss luxury watchmaker Vacheron Constantin have announced the inaugural class of their newly launched Artisan Residency, a program aimed at nurturing traditional craft techniques while encouraging contemporary innovation. The 18-month residency, developed as part of the ongoing partnership between the Swiss watchmaker and the museum, will bring three international artisans to both New York and Geneva for a period of research, collaboration, and creation.
The first cohort includes American furniture maker Aspen Golann, Egyptian ceramicist Ibrahim Said, and Italian jeweler Joy Harvey. Each was selected following a worldwide open call that emphasized both technical mastery and artistic vision. Golann, who teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design, is known for reinterpreting 17th–19th century American woodworking forms to explore the historical power dynamics embedded in decorative arts. Said, a second-generation potter from Cairo’s Fustat district—an area known for its ceramics since the 7th century—creates vessels that draw from ancient Egyptian forms while pushing the material possibilities of clay. Harvey, trained initially in chemistry, merges Florentine and Armenian goldsmithing techniques, producing sculptural jewelry that reflects on imperfection, aging, and beauty’s shifting nature.
“Aspen Golann, Joy Harvey, and Ibrahim Said are remarkably skilled practitioners who breathe new life into traditional techniques,” said The Met’s director Max Hollein.
During the residency, the artisans will study The Met’s collections and archives while also working closely with Vacheron Constantin’s master craftsmen, whose own métiers d’art span enamelwork, engraving, gem-setting, and more. The program will culminate in 2026 with a public presentation of the residents’ completed works at The Met.
The residency expands the partnership between The Met and Vacheron Constantin, established in 2023, which reflects both institutions’ shared commitment to preserving and evolving cultural savoir-faire.
