Between Presence and Absence

Reflective objects mirror the world around us, showing an image that can look at once familiar and at the same time strange. They invite the viewer to become part of the object, to watch their identity morph and distort as they move around it.

Adi Toch is a London-based metalsmith exploring the morphological qualities of vessels and objects around us. Working through metal, she applies both historic silversmithing techniques and an experimental approach, with particular interest and attention to surface treatments. Adi investigates an embodied experience that engages the viewer through sensorial interaction and often employs the metal’s conductive, sonic and reflective qualities.

Adi is a lecturer at the Royal College of Art and teaches and exhibits around the world. Her work is held in major private and public collections including the VA Museum in London, Museum of London, Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge, National Museums Scotland, National Museum Wales, Ulster Museum Belfast and The Jewish Museum New York.

Adi won prestigious awards for her work including a Gold Award from The Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council UK and The European Prize for Applied Arts, 2018. In 2021 Adi was the recipient of an important commission by the Gilbert Trust to create a response to the restitution of a historic gold ewer from The Gilbert Collection to Turkey. Her artwork Place to Place is on permanent display at The Gilbert Galleries, VA Museum, London.