Bringing Greece to the World

Colour Conversations with Artists from Around the World

By Luma Qusus Awad

An Interview with: Mary Samoli, Founder & Managing Director, A Jewel Made in Greece

Mary Samoli, Founder & Managing Director, A Jewel Made in Greece

I’m very fond of the work of jewelry designer, Mary Samoli, whom I met in Athens, Greece many years ago. Little did I know that she would become my idol, and I would have the privilege of becoming a designer in her initiative, “A Jewel Made in Greece.” This is a combination article encompassing a brief biography as well as a question and answer portion. It’s extremely difficult to sum up this amazing woman’s accomplishments in one column but I will do my best to give you a picture of her as an artist as well as her contributions to the arts community.

For about 20 years, Mary worked in cinema, mostly as the Head of Production. Meanwhile, having a strong sense of social responsibility, she was engaged in a wide range of social activities.

For eight years Mary was a Municipal Counsellor at Filothei. This gave her the opportunity to serve her neighbourhood as Vice Mayor of Environment and Culture, as President of the Cultural Committee, as honorary member of the Filothei Center of Fine Arts “George Karidis”, and as President of the Municipal Kindergarten.

Athinais, November 2003: “Where Matter Turns into Spirit.”

Mary’s wanderings in art began in 1998, when she decided to experiment with the concept of recycling. Making use of worthless, precious or semi-precious (but always signifying objects) she created wreaths, made out of “forgotten” objects.

Athinais, May 2006: “Sea Sentiments”.

For her next journey, she wandered through Water. The sea became her color palette; She used glass as a canvas, equipped herself with sand and clay, borrowed wood and ironware from wrecks and used up the stock of pebbles from her summer wanderings, to finally “sculpt” mirrors.

Athinais Museum of Modern Art, December 2009, “Shine”.

In 2009, she decided to make the molds herself, creating jewelry and sculptures.

Museum of Arts and Design, New York, USA

In September 2015, Mary participated in the LOOT@MAD exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, together with 50 artists from 30 different countries around the globe.

A Jewel Made in Greece

Since 2013, she has established the platform A JEWEL MADE IN GREECE, with the purpose of promoting modern Greek jewelry in Greece and the rest of the world as well as supporting and highlighting the uniqueness of each creator, respecting their personality.

Through the platform, for the fifth consecutive year, the Greek jewelry has travelled to The World Trade Center in Dubai, the emblematic building of the European Parliament in Brussels, at JCK LUXURY, Las Vegas, WHO IS NEXT, Paris, Shanghai, and recently the Museum of Art’s & Design MAD in New York, some of their most important stations until now.

Mary is an extraordinary creative artist and entrepreneur who raises the bar in everything she does. Her creative approach in highlighting talented jewelry designers and promoting her Greek heritage in contemporary wearable art is remarkable.

I was intrigued with how Mary entered into designing jewelry and where she is at on her entrepreneurial journey.

Here is what she had to say.

When did you discover your love for jewelry design?

In 2003 I decided to follow my instinct and make a major change in my professional life. Leaving behind film production—I followed my passion for jewelry design. I attended a specialized course in jewelry design, which made me realize even more how much I love to create jewelry.

What is the best thing about your job as a jewelry designer?

The most exciting aspect of being a jewelry designer is watching an idea transform into a real sculpture and work of art.

Where do you draw your inspiration from and how would you describe your collection?

My primary inspiration derives from Greek culture and mythology. Each collection has a different story behind it and depicts diverse elements of nature.

What materials and techniques do you work with?

I mostly work with gold, silver, precious stones, as well as pearls and corals. The technique of my work is the method of “lost wax,” which gives me the ability to materialize my ideas.

You have worked with corals in some of your collections. What does coral represent to you?

For me, the vivid colors of corals represent optimism and travel in the endless blue seas of Greece.

Who do you imagine wearing your pieces when designing your jewelry?

A dynamic and sensitive woman who is confident to express her true self.

In recent years you stepped out to help other jewelry designers and artists by founding “A Jewel Made in Greece.” Tell us how it all started, the idea behind it, and your most important achievement so far.

The idea started with my ambition to create a platform that would present and promote the image of modern Greek jewelry in Greece and all over the world. “A Jewel Made in Greece” was created by engaging unique designers of contemporary art jewelry from all over Greece. In 2018 we included inspiring international designers and invited them to join our exhibition in Athens, Greece. Through the platform, for the fifth consecutive year, the Greek jewelry has traveled to the World Trade Center in Dubai; to the emblematic building of the European Parliament in Brussels; to the Luxury by JCK expo in Las Vegas; to the Who’s Next trade show in Paris and Shanghai; and recently, to the Museum of Art & Design in New York. These are some of our most important exhibitions to date.

We also have had several exhibitions in Athens.

How did you pivot in your business in this different and unprecedented time? Did you participate in online exhibitions and provide interviews with artists?

Optimism, decisiveness, and flexibility are the key principles that drive our business. In this unprecedented time, flexibility is of high importance. In this framework we developed the first B2B jewelry platform in Greece. More than 100 designers participated.

What is your advice as a leader in your industry to young designers or anyone planning to start a jewelry business?

I would highlight the importance of being authentic and urge them to follow their creativity and passion without limits.