Rajesh Gogna

"Ultimately being a member means contributing and feeding back into a thriving community"

"My grandad came to Birmingham in the 1960s and established a traditional Indian jewellery workshop. My father and his brothers continued the business and introduced me to the craft when I was young.

There was always an expectation that I would continue and so, at age 16, I attended the School of Jewellery in Birmingham. It was here that I became aware of the Goldsmiths’ Company and learned how they underpin the industry in a lot of ways. 

As an academic, I see my responsibility being one of inspiration and education, ensuring that the Goldsmiths’ Company remains the backbone of the modern craft. 
 

Ultimately being a member means contributing and feeding back into a thriving community of people who are both passionate and collaborative; and this sense of community matters.

What I appreciate most about being a member of the Goldsmiths’ Company is the way in which different people come together in informal ways, cultivating new ideas and solving problems. Through our work, we ensure longevity both for the industry and the Company alike."

Rajesh is a silversmith, academic and researcher based in Staffordshire. Given Freedom of the Company in 2013, he is currently Senior Lecturer in Design Crafts at De Montfort University and will be named Chairman of Contemporary British Silversmiths for 2020/2021. 

Rajesh is renowned for making one-off pieces of functional and sculptural collectable art objects. He created Silverware for the Government of India in 2005 and his work is represented in the permanent collections of  the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and Cartwright Hall in Bradford. Famous examples of his work include the 'Ice Tea Pot' and 'Unzipped' series - which draw upon research of historical artefacts and traditional techniques coupled with the exploration of form and functionality.