The spirit of artistry is fully embodied in Hans Casanova’s work and creative endurance. A globally recognized jewelry artist, master metalworker, and sculptor, Casanova has spent decades reexamining reality through the discipline of jewelry arts. His pieces reflect extraordinary technical mastery, a reverence for tradition, and a relentless devotion to translating lived experience into form.
Directed & Produced by Yolanda Faye.
Equal parts portrait and meditation, this film explores the mind of master metalworker and internationally acclaimed artist, Hans Casanova. Premiering at the Herbst Theatre on August 1, 2026.
Transmutation will be on view from 8/1–9/30 at the War Memorial Veterans Gallery in San Francisco. Marking his most innovative body of work to date, this collection crosses the boundaries between jewelry and sculpture.
Each piece a meditation on transformation, material, and time, Casanova never shies away from complexity; instead, intimately embracing all corners of the world as irresistible inspiration. Materials in hand, Casanova is transfixed by a world of wonder, wherein he becomes both master and confidant.
Hans Casanova is a master metalworker and jewelry artist whose practice bridges material, memory, and meaning.
I welcome you to experience my stories, collections, and works, both past and present. Each piece is imbued with meaning, imagination, and love. My hope is that the curiosity you feel in viewing these pieces may echo the vitality I experience in creating them.
You're invited to contact me if you would like to order a bespoke piece and work together to tell your story.
With love,
Hans Casanova is an internationally acclaimed jewelry artist and master metalworker. His jewelry was recently exhibited at Milan Jewelry Week, and he is preparing for his first solo jewelry exhibition in San Francisco in August 2026.
Hans Casanova’s art is born from a love of beauty, storytelling, material spirit, and a reverence for the act of creation. Fascinated by jewelry as a form of unbound energetic exchange, each piece becomes a meeting point between maker and wearer, between material and meaning, and between what is imagined and what is made.
Hans Casanova began his artistic pursuits working in metal at the age of ten in Chile, learning to sculpt copper from his father, a fellow artist and craftsman. Working initially in relief sculpture, Casanova developed his early practice by learning from the craftsmanship traditions of Pre-Columbian civilizations, including the Toltec, Maya, Sipán, and Moche, whose material languages continue to inform his approach to craft and form.
After decades working in metal sculpture, he traveled to Mexico and Europe, where he trained in the art of jewelry, studying the work of jewelry artisans in Puebla and Cholula before moving to work in Milan. Casanova now lives and works in Mexico, where he established his studio in Puerto Vallarta, creating handcrafted, one-of-a-kind works or art.
“That energy that you see, it takes any form. It may be in a necklace, may be in a ring, or in a chain. It can be on the wrist, at the waist. You can use it as you wish, but it is such a malleable energy that envelops you.”
I welcome you to experience my stories, collections, and works, both past and present. Each piece is imbued with meaning, imagination, and love. My hope is that the curiosity you feel in viewing these pieces may echo the vitality I experience in creating them.
You're invited to contact me if you would like to order a bespoke piece and work together to tell your story.
With love,
Hans Casanova creates bespoke pieces, crafting wildest fantasies into jewelry.
Crafting your perfect piece starts with you. What do you imagine about the jewelry of your dreams? Do you wish to tell a story or honor one of life’s moments? Are you hoping to capture the essence of your favorite park bench, the beach you visited as a child, or your grandmother’s crystal figurine collection? There are no limitations to imagination.
As we craft your perfect piece, we will establish your selection of gemstones, finish, sizing, budget, and delivery schedule. Do you prefer gold, platinum, or silver? Do you imagine specific gemstones or colors? Would you like to incorporate wood, stone, or other unique materials into your piece? What is your budget and when do you need your jewelry by?
Once you've shared your specifications, Hans will begin bringing your fantasy into reality.
“When I start to make jewelry, I start thinking about the person who is going to buy it. And sometimes I say to myself, ‘Who will be the one to take this? What is your name? Who are you? Where will this energy finally stay?’ I feel it’s a healing energy that beautifies. And that’s the spirit that comes. That’s who the energy attracts.”
Within the walls of the studio, raw earth is transformed into precious metal through fire, pressure, and hand. Gold and silver are smelted, poured, and shaped with intention, each gesture guided by years of mastery and an instinctive understanding of material.
Every piece is designed and realized entirely by Hans Casanova, moving seamlessly from sketch to final form under a single hand. It is this uninterrupted dialogue between artist and material, that gives each work its depth, intimacy, and sense of presence.
The studio is the epicenter of creativity and craft. Silver and gold are smelted by hand, pieces are sketched out, designs are brought into reality using masterful craft. Hans Casanova shares an intimacy with his work, knowing all facets of the materials and fully understanding each piece before it comes to be. Each piece is made in it’s entirety by the artist.
Precious metals are purchased in their pure form and brought directly into the studio, where they are weighed and smelted by the artist himself. By working metals in-house from their elemental state, Casanova maintains a direct relationship with the material at every stage, shaping each design through a continuous dialogue between raw substance and refined form.
All stones are personally sourced by Hans Casanova, who travels internationally in search of exceptional gems that align with the meaning and intention of each piece of jewelry. Casanova works closely with reputable gem merchants, ensuring each material meets his standards for quality, integrity, and resonance within the broader composition.
Through his long career as a jewelry artist, Hans Casanova’s creativity is unbound by conventional rules of jewelry. Casanova creates with a singular focus on imbuing his pieces with meaning and story. Doing justice to those stories leads him to work with unorthodox materials, creating pieces that are one-of-a-kind in both substance and style.
Works of art are made in Hans Casanova’s Puerto Vallarta studio using high-quality materials, forged with masterful metalworking techniques, and thoughtfully designed by the artist.
I welcome you to experience my stories, collections, and works, both past and present. Each piece is imbued with meaning, imagination, and love. My hope is that the curiosity you feel in viewing these pieces may echo the vitality I experience in creating them.
You're invited to contact me if you would like to order a bespoke piece and work together to tell your story.
With love,
I welcome you to experience my stories, collections, and works, both past and present. Each piece is imbued with meaning, imagination, and love. My hope is that the curiosity you feel in viewing these pieces may echo the vitality I experience in creating them.
You're invited to contact me if you would like to order a bespoke piece and work together to tell your story.
With love,
