A Moveable Refreshment: Works Old and New by Robert Race
Saturday 24 January to Sunday 8 March 2026
Step into a world where imagination and ingenuity transform everyday objects into joyful, moving works of art. A Moveable Refreshment showcases the delightful creations of Robert Race, an award-winning toymaker and inventor whose work has captivated audiences for almost 50 years.
Robert’s journey began with a fascination for movement. A self-taught sculptor, he first made dolls’ houses and miniature furniture, but his curiosity, inspired by toys from around the world, led him to explore mechanical toys and automata. Powered by simple, hand-operated mechanisms like cams, levers, and pulleys, Robert’s creations do not rely on electricity, but instead, on the magic of human interaction and discovery.
What sets Robert’s work apart is his ability to reimagine discarded materials. Driftwood, scrap metal, wire, string — materials others might see as rubbish — are carefully selected and given new life. As a former science teacher, Robert not only creates exquisite art but encourages us to rethink sustainability and the value of reuse. His work reminds us that beauty and creativity can be found in the most unexpected places.
This exhibition brings together Robert’s iconic early works alongside newer pieces, showing how his approach has evolved over time. It’s a hands-on celebration of creativity and movement, speaking to all ages. A standout piece is Another Rubbish Year, where Robert collects a small, discarded item each day — a bus ticket, lost earring, or broken ruler — and reinterprets them as a commentary on waste and recycling.
Widely exhibited, Robert’s work is held in collections such as the Museum of Childhood in London, the Japan Museum of Contemporary Toy, and the Arts Council (Southeast) Craft Collection. Commissions include designing the Transformations: The Art of Recycling exhibition at Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum and creating mechanical donation boxes for venues like Black Swan Arts, Victoria Art Gallery, and Dorset County Hospital. In 2023, he won a gold medal at the Heim und Handwerk exhibition in Munich.
As a youthful octogenarian, Robert continues to create and innovate, inspiring us all to see the world in a new, playful way.
‘All the things I make are moveable, and the word ‘refreshment’ reflects the fact that I rediscover materials and refresh them. I hope people will smile, if not laugh, and see the world in a different way.’ Robert Race
