Art of Glass @ National Museum of Scotland

A new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland will examine the diverse work of 15 established and emerging glass artists in Britain today.

Presented in partnership with The National Centre for Craft & Design, Art of Glass will explore how artists are embracing the medium of glass in innovative ways, pushing the boundaries of techniques and challenging the perception of glass as merely a material for creating functional objects.

The artists featured in the exhibition are based around the UK, from isolated rural studios to busy urban locations. Their work uses glass in a wide variety of ways, from neon to stained glass.

Since the Studio Glass Movement of the 1960s, Britain has had a significant impact on how glass is perceived as an art form. Both national and international artists have based themselves here, drawn to the teaching and world-renowned facilities the UK offers.

Glass can be worked in a variety of ways, whether it’s manipulated in a hot glass studio, or cast in a kiln, while new technologies such as waterjet cutting and 3D printing are opening up exciting possibilities for artists.

The exhibition will highlight the work of contemporary artists leading within the field of glass, such as the Filipino-American artist Jeffrey Sarmiento, whose work draws on personal narratives, and the renowned English sculptor Emma Woffenden, shortlisted for the V&A Woman’s Hour Craft Prize 2017, whose evocative pieces have a sense of the surreal.

Edinburgh-based Geoffrey Mann has created The Leith Pattern, which explores the myth that the archetypal wine bottle was designed and produced by the Leith Glassworks. For his piece Mann captured the voices of Leithers to create a ‘living’ bottle that resonates with tales of the past.

Also on display will be emerging artist Erin Dickson’s recent body of work – a collaboration with leading international glass artists to reinterpret a historical urn – as well as new work by Scottish artist Karlyn Sutherland, who is influenced by the environment and quality of light found in the far-north of Scotland where she is based.

Perthshire-based Pinkie Maclure has created Beauty Tricks for the exhibition. A strikingly modern piece of stained glass which critiques the human and environmental impact of the beauty industry and the pressure women sometimes place on themselves and their daughters.

Sarah Rothwell, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Design at National Museums Scotland said:

Glass is exceptionally versatile, and artists in the UK are exploring its potential in new and exciting ways. This exhibition showcases some of these outstanding artists – highlighting their inspirations, processes and techniques – and features pieces which re-evaluate our understanding of the role of glass as an artistic medium.

Art of Glass draws on a significant investigation of artists in glass working in Britain today, carried out by National Museums Scotland and The National Centre for Craft & Design.