Rachael Plassard: Holding on to Memory Through Metal

‘I’m particularly drawn to the acanthus as both a motif and a form, as well as to the frame, which carries ideas of collection, protection and absence. While the work is rooted in extensive decorative research, beneath that ornament is something much more personal—a response to grief and loss, and a deep reflection on memory.’ At first glance, Rachael Plassard’s jewellery is a celebration of ornament, with acanthus leaves unfurling across darkened silver and flashes of gold catching the light. Look closer, however, and the forms begin to fracture, fade and disappear. Born from Rachael’s experience of watching her father live with Alzheimer’s for more than a decade, the A Place to Remember Collection explores memory, loss and identity through the enduring symbolism of the acanthus leaf, associated with life and rebirth. Rachael cut hundreds of leaves from metal, turning the repetitive process into a way of working through grief. Now selected for Shine 2026 at the Goldsmiths’ Centre and recognised with a Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council Award, her work transforms deeply personal experiences into jewellery that explores the tension between beauty and absence, and the human desire to create permanence from impermanence. Rachael Plassard is one of 13 jewellers and silversmiths to showcase her new collection as part of the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s Shine 2026 new talent showcase. Shine provides UK-based early career makers with a unique opportunity to participate in an intensive taught programme, upskilling participants to present a new collection of work as part of a physical exhibition at the Goldsmiths’ Centre (3-minutes from Farringdon, EC1M 5AD) and for purchase online. Visit our website: www.goldsmiths-shop-talent.org Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gsmithscentre Contact us: shop@goldsmiths-centre.org