Dream Machine is an exhibition that activates tender conversations through the fusion of identity and studio practice. We house work that exposes today's truths, standing together in idea and individuality.
Artists at all stages of their career are encouraged to apply! Dream Machine seeks to present a wide range of work to show off the breadth of our field.
Dream Machine features work that explores themes of identity and politics; intimacy and isolation; body and autonomy. Through jewelry, tableware, and objects, artists manifest the intangible—giving voice and form to the liminal spaces of dreams, feelings, and atmosphere. Allowing for hope, anticipation, and anxiety, these works come together to reflect distinct and connected experiences.
Dream Machine has an ever-evolving curatorial team! By bringing on a new curator every-other year, we bring fresh energy and changing perspectives to the show.
Dream Machine has become an annual must-see show during New York City Jewelry Week. Started in 2019 by Sylvie Alusitz and Betsy Lewis, DM takes pride in putting an eclectic collection of contemporary pieces in bed together. Work by students and emerging artists is shown alongside work by mid-career and established industry names from all over the world. We like to think of it as a snapshot of the spectrum of work that’s being made in our field right now.
Please email us at dreammachineexhibition@gmail.com if you’re interested in curation!
Meet the team.
Meg Wachs
Meg joined the Dream Machine curatorial Team in 2023.
Meg is a New York City-based artist and curator whose personal and professional practice aims to bridge the gaps between material practices. Her studio practice consists of bringing a slew of materials to her jeweler's bench and trying to make sense of them in a wearable way through the lens of a metalsmith. The current projects in her studio are not focused on any singular result but embrace the experimentation of a marriage of materials. Her love of curating comes from a desire to lift up and bring light to new and exciting work in the field of jewelry.
Among obtaining a BFA from the State University of New York at New Paltz in 2012 and an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2018, Meg has worked as a fabricator, participated in residencies, was part of the original NYCJW team from 2018-2020, and has exhibited nationally and internationally. She has an incurable desire for earrings and is constantly on the hunt for new designs to add to her collection of 65+ pairs.
Niki LEIst
Niki joined the team in 2025 as a first-time curator.
Niki is a jeweler and artist based in Philadelphia, PA. Texture, depth, and movement is central to Niki’s approach. She is drawn to the evidence of the human hand, the craftsmanship behind each mark, and the thoughtful interaction of elements within a piece. Working primarily with precious metals, she values their longevity and ability to be passed down or reworked over generations. Her work is informed by an intuitive love for form-making and the rhythmic actions of handcrafting, and is reminiscent of the force of water and wind on land, sand dunes, and flowing architecture.
Niki gained her BFA in 2010 from Arcadia University, where she studied painting and metalsmithing. She spent the next decade in corporate management positions while honing her jewelry skills. The birth of her daughter prompted her to pursue her artistic career, and in 2022 she was awarded a spot in NextFab’s Artisan Accelerator, which pushed her to establish her jewelry business. She was selected as a Halstead Grant Finalist in 2024 and awarded ACC’s Early Career Grant in 2026.
SARAH MONTAGNOLI
Sarah is the newest addition to the DM Team, joining us in 2026.
Sarah is a jeweler, metalsmith, and educator based in Philadelphia, PA. She received her BFA from Moore College of Art & Design (2018) and moved on to pursue her MFA and Teaching Certification at Tyler School of Art & Architecture (2021). Since receiving her Masters, she has been teaching jewelry at Tyler School of Art & Architecture, Rowan University, Alloy Atelier, and Fleisher Art Memorial.
Montagnoli creates whimsical jewelry objects, often mimicking toys or imaginary creatures, as well as dreamy earrings, rings, and pins in her production work. When not teaching or seated at her bench in Night Shift Studio, she enjoys time with her cats, collecting small trinkets, and wandering in the rain.