IPPOLITA presents
MATTER, HAND, GOLD
June 25, 2026 - June 28, 2026
NOMAD Hamptons 2026
At The Watermill Center
Placer gold | This is a gold nugget recovered from a stream gravel deposit known as a placer (Spanish for alluvial sand). The nugget shows a typical batered and rounded form.
Gold in quartz | This specimen mined directly from one of the veins in the Earth is an example of the form in which it naturally occurs—as scattered grains in quartz.
Grains of gold | Gold nuggets are relatively rare in stream gravels. Most stream gold is recovered in the form of small grains or flakes like these.
Gold nugget | The angular shape and rough texture of this nugget indicate that it has not moved far from the place where it weathered out (became exposed).
IPPOLITA presents an installation tracing gold’s 150-million-year journey from earth to tool, and from hand to body. At its center are rare natural gold nuggets sourced from the Yukon, Canada’s westernmost territory, within the historic Mayo Mining District. Shaped by pressure, water, and time, these elemental forms carry the force of their origin.
Gold has long been a vessel for human meaning: permanence, wealth, power, desire. Yet its first story is geological. Released from quartz veins over millions of years, gold traveled through gravel, silt, and stone as mountains eroded and ancient rivers reshaped the terrain, settling into the rich deposits that miners seek. Placer mining follows this natural process, using careful excavation and flowing water to wash lighter sediment away, leaving the heavier gold behind.
No two nuggets are alike. Some are smooth, rounded by water and distance; others are rough, crystalline, and closer to the rock from which they came. Their irregular surfaces, inclusions, and forms become a visual language of their own, guiding the collection through shapes found in nature and their symbolic meanings across time.
Working with the nuggets’ contours and individual character, Ippolita Rostagno and Piotrek Panszczyk transform them into sculptural jewelry. The resulting compositions retain the gold’s raw presence while forming a new body of work for IPPOLITA, marking their first collaboration since Panszczyk joined the brand as Creative Director.
NOMAD is a curated exhibition platform dedicated to collectible design and contemporary art, bringing together leading international galleries, designers, and artists within architecturally significant and immersive environments. Rather than operating as a traditional fair format, NOMAD creates an intimate dialogue between objects, space, and audience through highly considered residential-style presentations.
The first U.S. edition of NOMAD will take place at The Watermill Center in Water Mill, New York from June 25–28, 2026. Founded by Robert Wilson, The Watermill Center is internationally recognized for fostering experimental artistic practice and cross-disciplinary collaboration, creating a distinctive setting where contemporary art, design, and culture intersect.
OPENING HOURS
26—27 JUNE: 11AM—7PM
28 JUNE: 11AM—5PM
The Watermill Center
39 Water Mill Towd Road
11976, Water Mill
Complimentary admission will be extended exclusively to registered guests during the Public Days, taking place from 26 to 28 June.
