>Betony Vernon
Designer
Betony Vernon is an American-born, Milan-based jewellery designer, whose aesthetic is formed by her explorations in sex, sensuality and the erotic body realm. She studied art history and metalsmithing at Virginia Commonwealth University and a Masters degree in Industrial Design at Domus Academy, Milan, opening her first atelier in Florence in 1990 to create one-of-a-kind objects. She has created jewellery for a number of design houses, including Missoni, Gianfranco Ferre, Fornasetti and with shoe designer Alain Tondowski in 2001 to create ‘Venus’ shoe concept. In the same year Vernon presented her ‘Paradise Found I’ and ‘Paradise Found II‘ collections of fine erotic jewels and jewel tools, culminating in the Boudoir Box, a limited edition custom-made luxury travel case containing 21+ objects from the ‘Paradise Found’ collection. Vernon founded ‘Paradise Found’ members-only salon and showroom in Paris in October 2004, followed by its extension ‘Eden’ in 2008. Vernon has conducted jewellery seminars for bodies including the European Institute of Design and the Domus Academy, Milan, and her work has been included in a number of international exhibitions. She is completing her first book, ‘Paradise Found’, due for publication in December 2008.
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POLITICAL FASHION
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Selected Exhibitions
‘Sex in Design, Design in Sex’, Museum of Sex, New York, 2008
‘Touch Me’, Victoria & Albert Museum, Contemporary Gallery, London, 2005
‘Body Craze’ Selfridges, London, 2003
‘Il Classico, Norma e Variazione" ,"Abitare il Tempo", Verona, Italy, 1999
‘Anni 90, Arte a Milano’, Triennale, Milan, 1995
‘Primordi’, international design, Triennale, Milan, 1993