Headlining the Le Art Noir, Diversity in Color exhibition during Art Basel Miami Beach, artist Johnathan Schultz unveiled striking new pieces in his ‘Out of the Darkness’ exhibition – including two of the largest diamond art pieces of the 21st Century. Fusing the worlds of art and jewelry the exhibition combined one-of-a-kind cultural iconography from around the world with the spellbinding beauty of diamonds, including a fingerprint containing over 9,000 diamonds and a showstopping 10ft multi-tiered diamond pendant chandelier constructed from a section of high security fencing from Robben Island.

With over 100 art pieces on show within the three gallery spaces, the must-see exhibits included two of the largest diamond art pieces crafted in the 21st Century – the ‘Out of the Darkness’ Diamond Fingerprint and ‘Refraction of a Legacy’ Diamond Chandelier. Le Art Noir, Diversity in Color, took place from December 2 – 5, 2021 at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, Miami.

‘Out of the Darkness’ Diamond fingerprint –Taken from the exhibition title, ‘Out of the Darkness’ is derived from Mandela’s fingerprints. This truly stunning art piece radiates with 9,225 diamonds set in 18 carat white gold coming in at 895 carats. The Round Brilliant cut stones are Color G/H and Clarity VS plus, creating a captivating, alternative perspective on the remarkable legacy and story of South Africa’s first democratically elected President.

‘Refraction of a Legacy’ Diamond Chandelier – on show for the first time in Miami, ‘Refraction of a Legacy’ is constructed from metal fencing recovered from Robben Island, the maximum-security prison used in the Apartheid years and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The chandelier stands at an imposing 10ft tall, comprising five circular layers with cascades of diamonds. The diamonds themselves represent the hope and light we have in ourselves, with the structure signifying light breaking through the fence that once imprisoned others. All diamonds used by Schultz are responsibly sourced in the U.S.

Schultz explains: “Art takes us back to our roots. We are inspired by it; we crave to be better because of it. Art develops over time, and so do we. ‘Out of the Darkness’ is influenced by my experiences growing up in South Africa and the global challenges that remain today of fighting injustice and finding a more positive light to be guided by. On a practical level, the challenge of pushing boundaries at the crossroads of art and jewelry drives me to continue to make the impossible a reality.”

For additional information visit thejohnathanschultz.com