Between the Baltic and Venice, the Atelier Ponte de le Erbe project develops a dialogue between contemporary jewelry, amber design, and materials research
Artists, designers, and international foundations choose Venice as a place of work and research. Among them are designers Jola Słoma and Mirek Trymbulak, who have opened Atelier Ponte de le Erbe in the Cannaregio district, a private space dedicated to research on contemporary jewelry and Baltic amber culture.
The project was born as a meeting point between Venice and Gdańsk, cities historically connected by the Amber Route, the trade route that for centuries linked the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean.
The space hosts exhibitions, artist residencies, and meetings dedicated to the dialogue between craftsmanship and contemporary art. It is also home to the Amber Route Foundation, a cultural initiative that promotes collaborations between artists, designers, and international institutions.
Events and Exhibitions
One of the most significant moments of this journey was the exhibition Relationships at Palazzo Pisani Santa Marina. The project, organized by Jola Słoma and Mirek Trymbulak in collaboration with the City of Gdańsk, Venice Design Week, and Venice Fashion Week, reactivated the historical dialogue between Venice and Gdańsk through meetings, workshops, and activities open to the city.
Since the Middle Ages, Baltic amber reached Venice along the Amber Route, a commercial network that connected the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean. For centuries this precious resin crossed Europe to the lagoon, fueling an economy of trade, artisan craftsmanship, and cultural exchanges. Relationships reconnects the history of exchanges between Venice and Gdańsk through the work of contemporary designers.
The exhibition presented the finalist works of the Amberif Design Award 2025, one of the main international awards dedicated to amber jewelry. Designers from various European countries explored the expressive possibilities of this material between design, sculpture, and art jewelry.
Alongside the exhibited works, workshops dedicated to amber craftsmanship were held, led by master craftsman Robert Pytlos.
The project also involved the Venetian educational system. Twenty second-year students from the Art Moving and Set-Up Manager course at ITS Marco Polo Academy in Venice, guided by architect Elisa Monaci, designed and created the exhibition installations.
During the closing weekend of Venice Fashion Week, a fashion show-performance presented the new Ponte de le Erbe collection by the brand Soul Bijou.
Soul Bijou jewelry combines Baltic amber, Murano glass created by master Bruno Amadi, and elements crafted by Venetian mask maker Sergio Boldrin of La Bottega dei Mascareri, small masks used as precious stones within the compositions.
The atelier’s programming also includes projects that relate contemporary jewelry and performing arts. Among these are the exhibition Brosza Ciała, accompanied by a contemporary dance performance by choreographer Anna Mieczkowska, and the exhibition by artist and sculptor Żaneta Giza.
A Creative Journey Between Fashion and Jewelry
Jola Słoma and Mirek Trymbulak live between Gdańsk and Venice. They are fashion designers and founders of Soul Bijou, a jewelry brand born from the encounter between Baltic amber culture and Venetian artistic techniques.
Their work spans fashion, jewelry, and design. Silver, Baltic amber, and Murano glass become materials of research that connects two territories and two cultures.
The connection with Venice began many years ago. After participating in workshops dedicated to Venetian masks and collaborating with local artisans, the two designers chose to develop part of their work in Venice.
For the dialogue built between Gdańsk and Venice through their work with Venetian craftsmanship, City Council President Ermelinda Damiano presented the two designers with the pennant of the City of Venice.
The Foundation
Through the Amber Route Foundation, the project invites international artists to develop residencies, exhibitions, cultural exchanges, and events.
The dialogue with Gdańsk continues also through Amberif, one of the main international fairs dedicated to amber that takes place every year at AmberExpo and brings together designers, goldsmiths, and researchers working with this material.
In the next edition, from March 26 to 28, 2026, Jola Słoma and Mirek Trymbulak will present the new Soul Bijou collection and participate in the program of events related to the project Gdańsk World Capital of Amber. On this occasion, they will also curate an exhibition dedicated to Polish fashion designer Grażyna Hase, a central figure in Eastern European fashion since the 1960s.
It was Grażyna Hase herself who, thirty years ago, awarded Mirek Trymbulak for a bold collection with a trip to Venice. When he first arrived at the Grand Canal, Mirek recalls, he had the feeling of coming home.
Since then, Venice has become part of their work and their life. Atelier Ponte de le Erbe is now the place where this dialogue takes shape.
Atelier Ponte de le Erbe
Cannaregio 6111, Ponte e Calle de le Erbe
Private workspace and research center.
Home of the Amber Route Foundation.
Open by appointment
The atelier is home to the Amber Route Foundation, a cultural organization co-managed with the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk, which invites international artists to develop projects and hosts meetings, exhibitions, and workshops.
