The Jewelry of Dorothea Prühl

A celebration of sculptural form and material mastery, The Jewelry of Dorothea Prühl marks the first U.S. exhibition dedicated to the German artist. Spanning nearly five decades of her work, this presentation features a series of necklaces and brooches that exemplify Dorothea Prühl’s visionary approach to contemporary jewelry.

​​Internationally recognized for her bold, expressive forms crafted in wood and metal, Prühl (born 1937) trained in the traditions of the Bauhaus. Her expressive compositions and seemingly simple gestures belie a complexity and degree of craftsmanship that is unmatched in contemporary practice. Each element is painstakingly carved or formed, resulting in compositions that feel both monumental and intimate.

Prühl attended the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in Halle, Germany, and returned to lead its jewelry and metalsmithing department for many years. In addition to shaping her own body of work, Prühl influenced generations of artists through her long career as a teacher and mentor.

Comprised of necklaces and brooches dating from 1976 to 2025, The Jewelry of Dorothea Prühl is the result of an extraordinary gift from the Rotasa Collection Trust. The MFAH now holds the largest public collection of Prühl’s jewelry in the world.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website