Repossi's Tribute Collection

Jewelry designer Gaia Repossi launches a collection that strives to recreate the most daring visions of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.

Repossi/Robert Mapplethorpe Triptych Heart Necklace

Three years in the making, Gaia Repossi, in collaboration with The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, has crafted an eight-piece jewelry collection ranging from rings with a patina effect to five-chain link necklaces. Her inspiration stems from Mapplethorpe's early career, when in addition to photography, he experimented with making beaded creations. After first being shown at Dover Street Market in New York, Repossi's innovative designs will now be carried exclusively at Dover Street Market in DTLA.

“The Mapplethorpe Foundation invited me to create jewelry influenced by the jewelry pieces Robert Mapplethorpe made with beads and found objects early in his career,” shares Repossi, creative director of Repossi. “I was able to access his entire archive of jewelry and jewelry materials at the Getty Research Institute. This collection is a tribute to his genius aesthetic and the beautiful items he assembled.”

The project is rooted in six themes, all of which strive toward breaking tradition and honing a personal aesthetic derived from accumulation and balance of volumes. The themes, which refer to a key element in each individual design, include Relic Claw, Triptych Heart, Americana Flag, Chain, Mechanic and Jetty. The jewelry designer also works in the broader themes of freedom and abandonment through the large shapes and volume of her designs.

Repossi/Robert Mapplethorpe Mechanic Ring

“The Mechanic ring, resembling a motor, is a technical construction with several hinges allowing the ring to move. This mobility is inspired by one of the necklaces created by Mapplethorpe," notes the creative director. "This creation is the epitome of craftsmanship and authentic to Repossi.”

The remaining pieces of the collection will be shown later, in 2022. The technicalities involved in each necklace and ring are exquisite, incorporating assembly systems, hinge mobility and the setting of over a thousand diamonds in one piece. Whether you are a connoisseur of fine jewelry or a Mapplethorpe photo fanatic, the dazzling collection is not to be missed. From June 29th through the end of July. Dover Street Market, 608 Imperial St., Los Angeles, repossi.com