Curator’s Talk: Time, Labour and the Value of Beads

About this event

Beads may be small and intricate, but their histories reveal powerful stories of identity, value, and status. In celebration of Brilliant: The Art of Beaded Footwear Around the World, join Director and Senior Curator Elizabeth Semmelhack for an informative and illuminating exploration of beadwork traditions from around the world and their role as markers of wealth, prestige, and cultural meaning. From royal adornment and ceremonial regalia to trade and personal expression, this lecture traces how beads have signaled belonging across time and place. At its core is the labour behind the work: the skilled craftsmanship, generational knowledge, and cultural practices embedded in every stitch. By centering time and labour, the talk challenges conventional ideas of value and asks what makes something “luxurious,” and who defines luxury.