Museum of Arts and Design Explores the Storytelling Power of Jewelry Through Works by Douriean Fletcher

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Episode Transcript

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Durian Fletcher. Jewelry of the Afro Future,
October 4th, 2025 to March 15th,2026.
This fall, the Museum of Arts and Design MAD presents the
first major museum exhibition dedicated to jewelry artist
Durian Fletcher, whose work spans independent design,

(00:21):
costume, and film. On view from October 4th, 2025
to March 15th, 2026. Durian Fletcher Jewelry of the
Afrofuture Center's Fletcher S Jewelry as a powerful narrative
tool in art identity and visual storytelling.

(00:42):
Fletcher S Jewelry articulates black identity, embodies
spiritual meaning, and has helped define cinematic
characters and imagined worlds. With over 150 works on view, the
exhibition explores Fletcher S evolution from self-taught metal
Smith to a designer whose handmade adornments have shaped
memorable aesthetics in contemporary cinema, most

(01:05):
notably Marvel Studios Black Panther film franchise.
The artist S practice exemplifies the ethos of
Afrofuturism, A cultural movement that reclaims Black
identity and history while envisioning egalitarian futures.
Inspired by the storytelling traditions of Zulu beadwork, the

(01:25):
ornate beauty of ancient Egyptian adornment, and the
innovation of African American Jewelers, Fletcher explores the
use of symbolism in spiritual practice, remagening and
creating new taleismatic forms that address personal and
collective transformation. Fletcher S oversized jewelry
with narrative elements speaks to empowerment, spirituality,

(01:48):
and intergenerational connection.
My work channels Afrofuturism byhonoring ancestral technologies
while imagining new futures through adornment.
Each piece is an energetic portal rooted in a desire to
remain connected to African cosmologies and designed to
activate personal power, spiritual memory, and liberation

(02:09):
across time, said Fletcher. The exhibition unfolds across 3
thematic sections Fletcher S formative years and studio
practice, her breakout film and television work including pieces
designed for major motion pictures, and her current
artistic explorations. Visitors will encounter

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elaborate brass and gold pieces inspired by ancestral
traditions, iconic costume jewelry from blockbuster films
and Fletcher S most recent works, including her collection
for luxury department store Bergdorf Goodman.
A highlight of the exhibition isthe jewelry Fletcher made for
Queen Raymunda and the Dora Mileage from the blockbuster

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films Black Panther 2018 and Black Panther Wakanda Forever
2022. These pieces, displayed with a
selection of the film's costumesby Academy Award-winning costume
designer Ruth E Carter, offer a behind the scenes look at how
adornment defines character, advances world building and

(03:15):
represents Black sovereignty on screen.
Fletcher S jewelry for television miniseries Roots 2016
and motion picture Coming to America 2021 also are featured.
While working on Black Panther, Fletcher made history in 2016,
becoming the first jeweler to begranted membership by the Motion

(03:38):
Picture Costumer Union I. It's a Local 705 Co curated by
professor and design historian Sebastian Grant and Barbara
Paris Gifford, Mad S senior curator of contemporary art,
craft and design. The exhibition includes process
sketches and, behind those scenes, imagery of Fletcher at

(03:59):
work. Visitors will discover the
references behind her designs, from a Moss a neck piece to the
structural experiments of Alexander Calder and Art Smith.
The exhibition also features MadS 1st presentation of several
ancient objects from Africa and Mesoamerica.
A dynamic schedule of public programs will accompany Durian

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Fletcher, Jewelry of the Afro Future, offering visitors hands
on art making experiences and deeper insight into the
exhibition S themes. On October 5th, Fletcher will
lead an intimate beading workshop focused on mindfulness
and community making through craft.
A second artist LED jewelry making workshop held on December

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16th will explore techniques using soft metals.
On November 20th, Co curator anddesign historian Sebastian Grant
will deliver a lecture on the intersection of jewelry and
Afrofuturism, A virtual discussion between the artist
and Anthony Francisco, former senior Visual development artist

(05:08):
for Marvel Studios. Scheduled on February 26th,
we'll delve into the process of designing iconic superheroes.
The exhibition S film series features special screenings of
Black Panther December 18th, Black Panther Wakanda Forever
January 8th and Coming to America Date DVD, each

(05:30):
introduced by original video commentary from the artist.
Exhibition credits Durillian Fletcher.
Jewelry of the Afro Future is made possible by the New York
State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the
Governor and the New York State Legislature, and is supported in
part by public funds from the New York City Department of

(05:53):
Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
This project is supported in part by the National Endowment
for the Arts. To find out more about how
National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and
communities, visit www.arts.gov.About Durillian Fletcher

(06:15):
Durillian Fletcher is a jewelry artist whose work bridges
tradition and imagination. A self-taught metal Smith, she
creates pieces that draw from African and African American
adornment practices, spiritual symbolism and personal
storytelling. Her bold sculptural designs,
crafted from materials such as brass, gold and semi precious

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stones have been featured in major film productions including
Black Panther 2018, Black Panther Wakanda Forever 2022 and
Coming to America 2021, where her jewelry played a key role in
shaping the visual identity of fictional worlds.
Raised in Pasadena, CA, Fletcherbegan making jewelry as a

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personal exploration of identityand cultural heritage.
Her early work was shaped by hertravels to South Africa, where
she studied traditional forms ofadornment and their role in
community and ceremony. In 2016, she became the first
jewelry designer to be recognized by the Motion Picture

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Costumer Union. This distinction made her the
sole jewelry artist on the production teams of the films to
which she contributed. In addition to her film work,
Fletcher maintains an independent studio practice,
with recent collections featuredby luxury retailers such as
Bergdorf Goodman. Her work has been celebrated for

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its layered references and commitment to handcroft,
blending past, present and future in wearable form.
About the Museum of Arts and Design The Museum of Arts and
Design MAD champions contemporary makers across
creative fields and presents thework of artists, designers, and
artisans who apply the highest level of ingenuity and skill

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since the museum S founding in 1956 by philanthropist and
visionary Aileen Osborne. Web Matt has celebrated all
facets of making and the creative processes by which
materials are transformed from traditional techniques to
cutting edge technologies. Today, the Museum escuratorial
program builds upon a rich history of exhibitions that

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emphasize a cross disciplinary approach to art and design and
reveals the workmanship behind the objects and environments
that shape our everyday lives. MAD provides an international
platform for practitioners who are influencing the direction of
cultural production and driving 21st century innovation, and
fosters a participatory setting for visitors to have direct

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encounters with skilled making and compelling works of art and
design. For more information, visit
madmuseum.org. Durillian Fletcher.
MAD at M8 Museum.