Silver September: Malcolm Appleby

Malcolm Appleby currently has work in 3 important exhibitions in the UK, reflecting his status as one of Britain’s pre-eminent engravers and silversmiths.

The Scottish Gallery’s Modern Masters (Metalwork and Jewellery) opened on the 9th September and includes pieces by a number of world class artists alongside a handful of Malcolm’s works including a bold and textural pair of beakers created in collaboration with enameller Jane Short.Malcolm Appleby Jane Short Beakers_wm

Modern Masters coincides with the National Museum of Scotland’s The Silversmith’s Art which features 150 works created by 66 acclaimed silversmiths between 2000 and 2015. This exhibition celebrates the Goldsmiths Company’s central role as patron of contemporary studio silver and highlights pieces by a number of high profile names including Stuart Devlin, Malcolm Appleby, Michael Lloyd, Jane Short and Rod Kelly, to name just a few.

A second collaborative pair of silver and enamel beakers by Malcolm with Jane Short are included: the Tectonic Beakers.Malcolm Appleby Jane Short Tectonic Beakers_l wm

Both shows are part of Scotland’s Silver September which focuses on the craft of silversmithing with a series of supporting workshop installations, lectures and other events, one of which is the The Glenmorangie Annual Lecture series, exploring the links between contemporary art and archaeology. On the 22nd September Malcolm Appleby will deliver this year’s lecture in an interactive question and answer session and discuss the experimentation that is characteristic of his work as well as the inspiration behind it.

Malcolm Appleby - Emma Boden 2015-05-19 s_wmThe third exhibition to include Malcolm’s work is in London at the Goldsmiths’ Centre where we photographed him in the roof garden (looking suitably inspired), just prior to his talk there earlier this year during the Inspired show (read our review of last year’s show here). A Sense of Jewellery opened on 15th September as part of the London Design Festival and brings together outstanding examples of modern jewellery made in Britain by 40 artists and designers over the last 40 years. Malcolm’s Hawthorn leaf brooch is on show.Malcolm Appleby HAWTHORN_Brooch s_wm

Modern Masters at The Scottish Gallery runs until 3 October 2015.

The Silversmith’s Art at the National Museum of Scotland runs until 4 January 2016.

A Sense of Jewellery at The Goldsmiths’ Centre runs until 19 November 2015.

Read more about Malcolm Appleby and his work.

Photography © Philippa Swann for Malcolm Appleby / Portrait © Emma Boden