Jewellery artist Helena Renner has been honoured with third place in the BKV Prize for Young Arts and Crafts 2025 for her exceptional graduation project. The graduate of the Gemstone and Jewellery Campus in Idar-Oberstein deals with social ideals of beauty and body images in a sensitive yet powerful way.
In her work, Renner transforms elaborately crafted shapewear and underwear objects into shimmering, precious body jewellery. Stretch marks, scars and other supposed flaws are not concealed, but made visible - as an expression of individuality, strength and self-acceptance. Her jewellery objects invite us to take a fresh look at our bodies and celebrate diversity instead of the norm.
Helena Renner thus sets a strong political signal for body-related struggles and pleads for a more empathetic view of ourselves and others. In 2024, she was awarded the Marzee Graduate Prize and the Grassi Prize of Sparkasse Leipzig for her artistic work.
Other talents from the Gemstone and Jewellery Campus were also able to impress at this year's competition: Miriam Strake (graduate) and Daniil Neskromny (student) were among the finalists - a strong testimony to the creative quality of the Idar-Oberstein study location. First prize went to Guja Youssefi and second place to Lara Solia Barenboim. A commendation was awarded to Emma Sattler.
The BKV Prize has been awarded annually by the Bavarian Arts and Crafts Association in Munich since 2006 and is one of the most important awards for young artists in the field of arts and crafts. Creatives under the age of 35 at the beginning of their professional careers are eligible to enter. In addition to prize money, the winners receive a publication in the association's renowned series of publications, an exhibition in the BKV gallery and a three-year free membership.
With this award, the Bayerischer Kunstgewerbeverein pursues the goal of making young artistic positions visible and promoting them sustainably - professionally, financially and with international appeal.
You can find more information about Helena Renner here.
You can find more information about the Bayerischer Kunstgwerbeverein and the BKV Prize here.
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