Houston, get ready to see jewelry like never before. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents “Going Underground: The Jewels of Bernhard Schobinger,” the first exhibition in the United States devoted to the Swiss avant-garde artist who turned jewelry into pure rebellion. On view through January 3, 2027, on the second floor of the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building, the show brings together 53 pivotal pieces of experimental jewelry plus select sculpture, spanning from 1968 to today.
Forget everything you thought a necklace could be. Schobinger builds his pieces from lightning conductors, fire-gilded copper, rose quartz, stainless steel, and gold, crafting rings, bracelets, and necklaces that look like they were forged for a beautiful underground revolution. His “Lightning Rod Necklace” from 1990 pairs spiky copper prongs with soft rose quartz spheres, a perfect snapshot of his fearless style.
The works come from prominent private collections and the MFAH’s own holdings, and museum director Gary Tinterow celebrates how Schobinger, over more than five decades, positioned jewelry within the broader field of postwar art. Whether you are an art lover, a design fan, or simply curious, this is one of those exhibitions you will be talking about long after you leave the gallery.
Photo: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
