Martin Katz Celebrates Collab With Sculptor Andrea Roggi in Paris

By Karen Dybis | May 20, 2025

Beverly Hills–based high jewelry designer Martin Katz and Italian sculptor Andrea Roggi have brought their combined artistic vision to Paris, where their Energia della Vita collaboration is now on public view.

Roggi’s tree sculpture featuring a bejeweled orb by Katz is exhibited inside the Hôtel de Crillon—one of six Roggi works on display in key locations around Paris’ 8th arrondissement through July 12.

For his part of the sculpture, Katz designed a “Mother Earth” that his jewelers set with more than 2,000 precious gemstones, including blue sapphires, paraiba tourmalines, tsavorite garnets, and white diamonds.

Martin Katz Andrea Roggi art — *Martin Katz’s Mother Earth sphere, set with precious gems, hangs from a branch of the tree of life in Andrea Roggi’s sculpture.*

The Paris exhibit is the second public appearance of Energia della Vita—it was unveiled in October 2023 at the Salone dei Cinquecento of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy.

Katz is currently in the City of Light for a May 22 event at the Hôtel de Crillon that will preview a smaller, limited-edition version of the artwork, as well as give people a look at Roggi’s solo show, which will take place in October during Paris Art Basel.

While the jeweler has previous designed special items for such brands as Ray Ban, DKNY, and Victoria’s Secret, the Roggi sculpture was the first time Katz partnered with an artist where they both had influence and the creative freedom to express their ideas.

“It was very thrilling to work with such a talented artist from another medium and discover how our artistic perspectives intermeshed so beautifully,” says Katz.

“When we first discussed engaging in a collaboration, I was inspired by Andrea’s spirit and vision for this project and his offer to allow me full artistic autonomy with the vision for the sphere,” he adds. “He completely understood my aesthetic and left me with full creative expression to design the Energia della Vita sphere as I respected his.”

Andrea Roggi Paris art — *Roggi* *personally supervised Energia della Vita and its current installation at L’Hôtel de Crillon in Paris.*

Katz credits his wife, Kelly, for discovering Roggi’s sculptures and encouraging them to collaborate. He says the sphere took two months to create and is one of the most difficult yet satisfying projects he’s worked on.

“I had never really worked in a round sphere before, which presented challenges when creating the extensive settings and engraving,” Katz explains. “I did not expect to set and polish so many stones.… While seemingly simple, it was incredibly challenging to articulate the land masses, oceans, and waterways to properly express the ‘energy of life’ source.”

Roggi’s inspiration for the sculpture series on exhibit in Paris is the tree of life, which he has described as one of the most fascinating symbols in the Western world. These works pays tribute to French philosopher and teacher Henri Bergson, the artist says.

Katz, who studied drawing and architecture while in school, says his jewelry designs come out of his lifelong passion for art. For his Energia della Vita piece, he was also inspired by his respect for Roggi’s talent.

“The finished result is a one-of-a-kind bejeweled sculpture that uniquely represents both of our respective arts as well as a great friendship,” Katz says.

Top: Martin Katz (right) with Andrea Roggi when their Energia della Vita collaboration was shown at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence in 2023 (photos courtesy of Martin Katz)