Brigitte Engel turns the ephemeral into wearable sculptures at Il·lacions Gallery

The Barcelona-based Il·lacions Gallery presents a solo exhibition by French designer Brigitte Engel, on view from October 15 – 23, 2026. The design exhibition brings Engel’s distinctive vision of jewellery design to the city as part of OFF Enjoia’t, a programme celebrating contemporary jewellery through exhibitions and creative initiatives across Barcelona during Barcelona Design Week. Through a selection of wearable sculptures, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to discover the contemporary designer’s approach to jewellery as a medium that extends beyond traditional ornamentation, exploring jewellery as a lasting expression of character, memory and emotion.

Having spent much of her life behind the scenes of performance venues, from the Olympia to the Paris Opera, Engel has developed a particular sensitivity to creations designed for fleeting moments on stage. Familiar with performance's transient nature, she draws on the idea of preserving what would otherwise disappear. Her jewellery practice explores this contrast between the ephemeral and the enduring, transforming forms associated with temporary experiences into lasting objects that can be worn. Engel’s eponymous contemporary jewellery brand, founded with her son, Hugo Engel-Berriau, reflects their shared vision of jewellery as personal and artistic expression.

The contemporary design showcase presents a selection of works from Visages, Engel’s first jewellery series. Through these pieces, she explores the relationship between form and identity, giving each creation its own presence and personality. “Each piece is a wearable sculpture, named for the figure, idea or emotion it carries,” the design gallery notes.