L’ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, to open exhibition during Dubai Design Week

07 NOV 2025

L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, unveils the “Poetry of Birds” exhibition in Dubai on November 6th, 2025 during Dubai Design Week. In strategic partnership with Dubai Design District (d3), the exhibition will be open to the public and run until April 25th, 2026.

Following previous editions of the exhibition in Paris and Tokyo, L’ÉCOLE in Dubai will offer a different perspective focusing on the dialogue between 19th and 20th-century Western jewellery and Islamic arts, with poetry as the common thread.

Exceptional jewels, precious objects, and gouaché drawings depicting birds from the most renowned jewelers such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Buccellati and more will be showcased alongside a selection of Middle Eastern works of art, notably on loan from the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization and Dubai Museums including carpets, ceramics, metalware, and miniatures.

Emirati artist Faisal Al Rais’s contemporary photography, showcasing the beauty and profound symbolism of birds from the Middle East and around the world, is set to make its public debut.

Freely inspired by Farid al-Din Attar’s The Conference of the Birds (circa 1117), the upcoming exhibition will be conceived as a poetic experience beginning with poems from renowned poets from the region, followed by a bejeweled display of bird species including falcons. It will culminate in contemplation of an aviary of imaginary birds by French jeweler Pierre Sterlé (1905-1978).

“Birds have long held a sacred place in the cultures of the Middle East - as symbols of freedom, renewal, and the human spirit. With ‘ Poetry of Birds’, we wanted to honour that tradition while showcasing how these symbols echo across time and continents through art, poetry, and jewellery. This exhibition is not just about beauty, but about the stories and meanings behind it - how the smallest motif can carry centuries of memory, emotion, and craftsmanship.” says Marie-Laure Cassius-Duranton, Exhibition Curator, Gemologist and Art Historian and L’ÉCOLE Senior Exhibition Contents Project Manager.

A key cultural moment for all

Furthermore, timed to coincide with the region’s leading design festival Dubai Design Week 2025, taking place at d3 from November 4th - 9th, the opening of “Poetry of Birds” will be a key cultural moment in the region’s creative calendar.

An Open House Day will take place on Saturday, November 8th, inviting the whole community to experience L’ÉCOLE Middle East’s course demonstrations, kids workshops, guided tours, and activities. These exciting events offer an unprecedented opportunity for visitors to explore the intersection of jewellery, art, poetry, calligraphy and design.

“At L’ÉCOLE, we are committed to making the world of jewellery arts accessible to everyone, from curious beginners to passionate collectors. Through the exhibition ‘Poetry of Birds’ and our vibrant cultural calendar starting with Dubai Design Week, we aim to create an immersive journey with jewellery, contemporary photography, poetry, music, and calligraphy, bringing together Middle Eastern heritage and Western craftsmanship through the shared language of symbolism, artistry, and storytelling. We hope to inspire meaningful encounters and to build a dynamic creative community in the region.” says Sophie Claudel, Director of L’ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts.

Further activities and commitments

Throughout its six-month duration, a cultural programme designed around the exhibition will encourage dialogue and discovery for all audiences.

Parallel to the exhibition, L’ÉCOLE in Dubai will continue to offer its selection of courses, open to all - from children to adults of all levels, complete beginners as well as enlightened amateurs, collectors and those curious about the world of jewellery.

L’ÉCOLE courses showcase its three pillars: the history of jewellery, the world of gemstones, and the savoir-faire of jewellery-making techniques.

Additionally, L’ÉCOLE Middle East is proud to continue its partnership with Dubai Cares, a UAE-based global philanthropic organisation.

Practical information

Address: L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, Dubai Design District (d3), Building 10, Ground Floor

Dates: From 6th November 2025 to 25th April 2026

Hours: Closed Monday; 10:00 - 19:00 Tuesday to Saturday; Closed Sunday

Free admission, although registration is recommended.

Book tickets: here.

Press contact

Laetitia Tregoning
laetitia@story-pr.com
+971 (0) 567 242 154

About L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts

Established in 2012 with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels, L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts aims to introduce the public to all aspects of jewelry culture through various activities: courses, workshops, talks, exhibitions, research, books and podcast.

Activities at L’ÉCOLE cover three main areas: the history of jewelry, the world of gemstones and the savoir-faire of jewelry-making techniques. The courses are open to everyone, with no prerequisites: complete beginners as well as enlightened amateurs, collectors and those with a curiosity for the world of jewelry. Students experiment with gestures, skills and tools, guided by their lecturers – art historians, gemologists and craftsmen.

L’ÉCOLE now has four permanent addresses: in Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Dubai. In line with its worldwide locations, L’ÉCOLE established its Middle Eastern campus in Dubai at d3 in April 2024.
All proceeds from L’ÉCOLE Middle East’s public courses and talks are donated to Dubai Cares to support youth education programs, underscoring the school’s commitment to social responsibility and youth empowerment.

Moreover, since its inception, L’ÉCOLE regularly travels abroad, in Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East, for talks, exhibitions or travelling course programs that can last one to three weeks. L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts therefore contributes to the promotion and visibility of jewelry culture on an international scale.

For more information: https://www.lecolevancleefarpels.com/me/en

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