Jewellery objects have formed part of Vasconcelos’ practice since the early stages of her career. The brooch Raiz (1994), conceived as an abstract symbol of her artistic philosophy, later became the emblem of the Fundação Joana Vasconcelos, established in Lisbon in 2012 and dedicated to preserving her oeuvre and promoting art and cultural education.

The Extravaganza necklace series was presented within the exhibition From Louise Bourgeois to Yoko Ono. Jewellery by Female Artists, conceived exclusively for the MAKK – Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln. Offering a transhistorical perspective on artists’ jewellery from the 1920s to the present, the exhibition foregrounded female artistic positions and challenged the traditionally male-dominated narrative of the avant-garde. Within this context, Vasconcelos’ works appeared as baroque-inspired wearable sculptures, exploring ideas of ornament, excess and the body as a site of artistic expression.