The Architect of Adornment: Melanie's 20-Year Journey Elevating Jewellery and Art

Curious to learn more about how jeweller Melanie Katsalidis founded Pieces of Eight Gallery? Read on to hear, in her own words, the story of her journey and the history of the gallery.

I. The Unconventional Start: Crafting a Community (2005–2010)

Twenty years ago, fresh from studying Gold and Silversmithing at RMIT, I had a conviction: contemporary jewellery deserved a gallery space that treated it as art.

With a short business course giving me confidence, and the unwavering support of my family, Pieces of Eight found its first home in North Fitzroy in 2005. It was less a traditional shop and more of a dynamic creative hub. The only way forward was through collaboration: I carved out studio spaces for fellow artists, and filled them with friends made at RMIT.

That foundation team was electric. We were a collective of emerging talent, including Lucy Folk and Raymond de Zwart (who later founded Black Finch), alongside Suzi Zutic, Nina Ellis, and ceramicist Nid Kelly. Even our bench assistants, Craig Spark and David Parker, have since become successful jewellers in their own right. It was a period of intense creativity, driven by shared ambition, and the gallery began launching powerful solo exhibitions to showcase our initial stable of ten artists. This shared history of growth and genuine collaboration remains the bedrock of our ethos today.

II. The CBD Chapter: Establishing a Cultural Mark (2010–2020)

By 2010, the Pieces of Eight vision demanded a larger canvas. We made a strategic leap to a custom-built space in Russell Place, right in the heart of Melbourne's CBD. This move was a momentous one, housed in a building designed by my father, Nonda Katsalidis, a true family synergy of art and architecture.

We launched this new chapter with an expanded vision, showcasing over 50 artists,  enriching our schedule with pivotal group exhibitions. The city embraced us, and this visibility allowed our bespoke commissions to flourish, enabling us to collaborate on hundreds of deeply personal treasures for our wonderful clients. We moved with the times, launching an online store and social media presence, expanding our reach beyond the gallery walls while always maintaining our commitment to quality over trends.

III. The Test and The Triumph: Resilience in Crisis (2020–2025)

The pandemic era presented a crisis for all retail, and for us, it was compounded by major recladding works on our Russell Place building that temporarily obscured us from the street, for over 12 months. Responding to this challenge with innovation, in 2022 we seized an opportunity for a three-year lease in Melbourne's iconic Royal Arcade.

With a beautiful interior designed by Adele Winteridge of Foolscap Studios, our new location proved to be a vibrant test, exposing our artists' work to a bustling new stream of clientele. It was a period of invaluable insight, confirming the appetite for our distinct brand of fine art jewellery in the busiest corners of the city.

The gravitational pull of our larger, dedicated gallery space was strong, however. With a magnificent 'glow-up' by Adele and the Foolscap team, we triumphantly reopened in our Russell Place home in the winter of 2025. The acclaim and happiness from our talented artists and loyal clients affirmed that we were exactly where we needed to be.

IV. Beyond Twenty Years: A Commitment to Melbourne

Pieces of Eight has been more than a business; it has been a privilege. To have launched and supported the careers of nearly 200 artists, to be entrusted with marking life’s most profound moments through bespoke commissions, and to contribute to the unique cultural tapestry of Melbourne is a profound joy.

I am immensely grateful to still be here after two wonderful decades. This story is one of shared passion, resilience, and the belief that jewellery can, and should be, art. I look to the future with great excitement, to continue to innovate, build trust and quality content for our community.

Melanie x

Join us to celebrate this milestone: 

Thursday, December 4th
6-8pm 
Pieces of Eight Gallery
28 Russell Place
Melbourne, 3000