【Campana, Arg】Jeweler from Campana Selected to Participate in Milano Jewelry Week in Italy

Campana News | Jeweler from Campana Selected to Participate in Milano Jewelry Week in Italy

Jewelry designer and goldsmith Walter Javier Melo from Campana will be part of one of the world’s most important events dedicated to contemporary jewelry, where he will exhibit his works “Fortín” and “Descanso.” The invitation came after his participation in Artbox Switzerland and recognizes his trajectory in artistic jewelry.
The artist first became interested in the craft around the age of 20.
The first work made with electroformed quebracho bark coated in metal.
Jewelry designer and goldsmith Walter Javier Melo from Campana will represent the city at Milano Jewelry Week, one of the most important international gatherings dedicated to contemporary and artistic jewelry.
The invitation came after his notable participation in Artbox Switzerland, a platform that brings together artists from around the world and boosted his candidacy to join the prestigious event held within the framework of Jewelry Fashion Week in Milan.
In an interview with Campana Noticias, Melo explained that his work encompasses both jewelry design and artistic goldsmithing.

Among his most recognized works, he mentioned the restoration of the lamp above the Costa cistern in the Municipal Palace, the dance sculpture located in Plaza 1° de Mayo, and the model of the first Argentine car installed in Spain.
The artist recalled that he became interested in the craft from a very young age, beginning his professional training around the age of 20. He studied at a jewelry school and later specialized in design through the Chamber of Jewelers and Affiliates of the Argentine Republic. Over time, he oriented his career toward artistic or contemporary jewelry, understanding each piece as a form of personal expression rather than a simple decorative or commercial object.

This perspective sparked the interest of the organizers of Milano Jewelry Week, who, after an initial pre-selection based on his trajectory and resume, evaluated images of the works he presented and ultimately chose two of them for their technical quality and conceptual strength.
The selected pieces are “Fortín” and “Descanso.” The first is made with electroformed quebracho bark coated in metal, while the second is a pendant crafted from a skeletonized leaf found in a park, subsequently coated in copper and gold-plated. Both represent the artistic approach that currently characterizes Melo’s production.
In addition to his participation in Milan, the local jeweler and artist was recently invited to join the exhibition “How Much Your Memory Beats,” organized by Joyeros Argentinos, which will open on August 8 and address, through various works, the memory linked to the disappeared.
The European experience will not end in Italy. Melo will travel accompanied by four students initially trained in the municipal workshops of Campana and later in his private workshop. After Milano Jewelry Week, the delegation will continue to Barcelona, where the artist will meet with students to whom he gives virtual classes and will conduct training sessions alongside specialized workshops and galleries. The goal is to strengthen international ties and promote future cultural exchanges.
Subsequently, the group will travel to Santiago de Compostela and Vila de Cruces, where they will participate in two exhibitions and the tenth anniversary of the cultural exchange initiated in 2017. There, he will once again encounter the sculpture created by Melo that pays homage to the first Argentine car, located in that Spanish town.
Looking ahead to the trip, the artist is seeking financial support from companies and institutions that wish to accompany the project. According to his explanation, he offers different collaboration alternatives, such as creating awards or corporate gifts, with the aim of funding the experience.