Debbie Dickinson Gallery curates “Alchemy,” a
landmark exhibition celebrating contemporary fine art,
luxury jewelry, fashion and design during New York Fashion
Week at Zadeh Atelier at 1244
Madison Avenue from September 15 until 27th, 2026.
Coinciding with the opening of NYFW and the winter
collections, “Alchemy” promises to offer something new from
the art world. As defined by Manly P. Hall in “The Secret
Teachings of All Ages,” alchemy is “the process of
increasing and improving that which already exists.” It is
only through “art” (or the process of learning) that it is
possible to grow and expand. The ancient adage “Nothing from
nothing comes” sums up this exhibition wonderfully: if it
weren’t for previous ink sketches, drawings from the
Masters, abstract shapes from the likes of de Kooning, witty
cartoons and jewelry fashioned from fine metals, bone and
other unexpected materials, there would be no art today and
certainly no experimentation.
“Alchemy” brings together five exceptional
creative visionaries—Stephanie Fuller, Michael Katz,
Elena Seroff, Anthony Haden-Guest, and luxury jewelry
designer Catherine M. Zadeh—whose diverse artistic
practices create a compelling dialogue between visual art,
fine artisanship, and luxury design. Working across drawing,
painting, printmaking, and fine jewelry, each artist offers
a distinctive perspective while demonstrating the enduring
power of artistic expression.
Michael Katz contributes
a compelling contemporary perspective through expressive
abstract compositions and a distinctive visual language.
With a background in psychology, Katz believes in the
importance of an “inner landscape” and a transformation of
perception where physical materials and art become “a vessel
for something less tangible—memory, emotion, silence and
awareness.” For Katz, this transformation is “both artistic
and spiritual.” Every work featured in the exhibition is
individually conceived and executed by its creator,
reflecting a singular vision and a deep commitment to
exceptional artisanship. Together, these works celebrate the
transformative relationship between imagination and
material, revealing how artists and designers elevate their
chosen mediums into enduring expressions of beauty, meaning,
and cultural significance.
Stephanie Fuller,
renowned as the lead singer of Kid Creole and the Coconuts,
presents elegant pen-and-ink figurative works distinguished
by rhythm, movement, and theatrical grace. Fuller relies on
her instincts as an artist that come from “rhythm, flow and
the rich saturation of India ink.” For Fuller, painting is
as natural as movement and, as a self-taught artist, it’s an
expression that simply oozes. Elena Seroff, an
accomplished artist and gallerist, presents lyrical
abstractions that unite expressive line, vibrant color, and
fluid movement. Influenced by her surroundings in the
Mediterranean, the “tranquility, reflection, and a deep
connection to nature” are what elevates Seroff’s pieces. She
is also “deeply inspired by the Old Masters, for whom
drawing was the foundation of artistic practice.” Their
mastery of line continues to influence Seroff’s work and
remains an essential part of her creative process.
The exhibition also features selected
pen-and-ink works by legendary artist, writer, and cultural
commentator Anthony Haden-Guest, whose distinctive
drawings enrich the exhibition's exploration of line and
artistic expression. Haden-Guest’s drawings begin with “a
comic idea,” and of course, the writing for which he is most
well-known “comes from looking, listening and
reading.” Excited by pen and ink, Haden-Guest’s drawings
are, according to the artist, “acute and funny as I can make
‘em” as he’s taken to unexpected places words don’t quite
reach.
At the heart of “Alchemy” is Catherine M.
Zadeh, whose handcrafted fine jewelry transforms
precious metals and gemstones into extraordinary works of
wearable art. Her creations reinforce the exhibition's
central theme—that jewelry, like fine art, is a timeless
expression of imagination, artisanship, and personal vision.
For Zadeh, “Alchemy is the art of transformation—taking
elements that seem worlds apart and fusing them into
something harmonious, elevated, and timeless.” As a
designer, her work is “a study in unexpected contrasts. True
alchemy in jewelry isn't just about turning base metals into
gold; it is about bringing together the raw and the
refined,” such as “reclaimed buffalo horn, exotic woods, and
industrial parachute cord with the architectural weight of
18-karat gold, silver, and diamonds.” For Zadeh, these
creations are, at their core, exactly what alchemy is all
about: they are the result of experimentation that goes very
well and “when these contrasting textures unite, they create
a synthesis that is far greater than the sum of its parts.”
Inspired by the ancient pursuit of
transforming ordinary materials into something rare and
precious, “Alchemy” reflects the creative process shared by
artists and designers alike. The exhibition demonstrates
that art, fashion, and design are not separate disciplines
but interconnected expressions of creativity, united by
innovation, artistry, and exceptional artisanship. In the
spirit of philanthropy, a portion of the proceeds from all
exhibition sales will be contributed to the Alzheimer's
Association Imagine Benefit, supporting its mission to
advance research, provide care and support for families, and
work toward a future without Alzheimer's disease.