Art of Glass

Studio glass is a relatively recent phenomenon within the studio crafts in Australia, beginning in the early 1970s. The earlier artists were inspired by the movement in the United States, where the first glass artists had visited traditional glass-making centres such as Venice to investigate glass blowing techniques. They adapted these to create unique and individual expressive works rather than replicate traditional forms.

Working hot glass is a highly technical and unforgiving activity. It requires and intimate knowledge of the material and its chemistry, as well s long hours of practice to perfect the necessary skills. The process is also time-sensitive; the glass must be worked at critical temperatures, balanced between a semi-liquid and semi-solid state.

In the fifty or so years of glass art in Australia, practitioners have perfected techniques while using them to create increasingly diverse works. Some are loose and others tightly controlled; some are functional and decorative, and others entirely sculptural.