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10 Australian Glass Artists You Need To Know About

Whether its nostalgic leadlight frames, molten blown glass pieces, or even functional objects that double as sculptures, there’s something a little bit magical about glass art.

There are so many talented local creatives in Australia’s tight-knit community of glass makers and artists, who are behind an impressive mix of pieces that show just how diverse the medium can be.

See 10 of our favourites below!

Written

Christina Karras

Emma Young’s work is nostalgic and full of colour! Photo – Michael Haines

Her pieces are often laced with humour. Photo – Michael Haines

And oh-so colourful! Photo – (left) Rossina Possingham, and (right) Michael Haines

Emma Young

Emma Young is a glass artist and designer who works from Adelaide’s iconic craft and design centre, JamFactory. She became fixated on creating glass cups and vases in vibrant colours during her Visual Arts degree, drawn to the medium’s ‘liveliness, practicality, and quirkiness’.

Emma makes everything from small vessels to her colourful ‘prickly pear’ sculptures, drawing inspiration from flowers, plants, fruit, and an array of childhood references!

Price range
$200 – $1500+

Where to shop
Find Emma’s work on her website, or JamFactory, Bluethumb Art Gallery, Art Images Gallery, Canberra Glassworks and Grainger Gallery.

Hannah Gadson plays with light and texture in her work. Photo – Brenton McGeachie

‘The science of glass is amazing – it’s an amorphous, totally unique type of material. The process of making and the end results are incredibly magical,’ she says. Photo – Brenton McGeachie

Hannah Gason

The ‘science of glass art’ hooked Hannah Gason from the moment she stepped foot into Canberra Glassworks for an evening class. Believe it or not, she was a cartographer at the time! But these days she’s a glass artist who channels patterns she finds in everyday life across her detailed, light-filled pieces.

‘In my work I really try to capture and use [glass’] extraordinary qualities: it can be transparent, opaque, liquid, solid, hot, cold, sheet, frit, powder, threads,’ Hannah says.

Price range
$3000 – $5000

Where to shop
Find Hannah’s work at her solo exhibition at Sabbia Gallery, Sydney, in July.

Artist Louis Grant grew up in the ‘epicentre for glass making in Australia’ – Canberra. Photo – Cassie Abraham

His work with glass uses a variety of techniques! Photo – Cassie Abraham

But his work is always graphic and nuanced. Photo – Ashley St George

‘My favourite thing about working with glass is that it’s so varied, versatile and expansive. It traverses so many other mediums, sculpture, painting, printmaking – it’s really not just glass blowing!,’ he says. Photo – Cassie Abraham

Louis Grant

Emerging queer artist Louis Grant’s works push the boundaries of traditional glass making. In his multi-disciplinary practice, unique shapes are combined with coloured floating spheres to create contemporary sculptures or striking wall panels.

‘My favourite thing about working with glass is that it’s so varied, versatile, and expansive,’ the Canberra-based creative says. ‘It traverses so many other mediums, sculpture, painting, printmaking – it’s really not just glass blowing!’

Price range
$100-$3000

Where to shop
Find Louis’ work on his website, and contact him via Instagram or email for a catalogue of his works

Poppy Templeton (A.K.A Duck Ragu)! Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files

Poppy’s work has a distinctive Art Deco influence. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files

The artist creates gorgeous, graphic mirrors. Photo – Poppy Templeton

And custom glass pieces! Photo – Poppy Templeton

Poppy Templeton

Poppy Templeton’s hand-crafted pieces often incorporate found mirrors and vintage glass – giving them a beautifully nostalgic quality. They feature of abstract forms and shapes inspired by nature, ranging from motifs of the sun to colour palettes drawn from happy memories at the beach and delicate florals.

Her work feels almost a bit retro or Art Deco, while also bringing something entirely new to the classic craft of lead lighting.

Price range
$500 – $2000

Where to shop
Find Poppy’s work on her website, and at Modern Times.

Marcel Hoogstad Hay. Photo – Grant Hancock

You can find his work currently showing in Saint Cloche’s ‘Liquid States’ exhibition! Photo – Grant Hancock

His work is intricate and fluid. Photo – Grant Hancock

‘My work involves multiple processes and, though I love them all, the technical aspects can be very challenging.’ Photo – Grant Hancock

Marcel Hoogstad Hay

Artist Marcel Hoogstad Hay works primarily with blown glass to create his amorphous sculptures filled with complex patterns that are inspired by his interests in astrophysics and outer space.

Despite the finicky nature of the medium, Marcel says the best part of working with glass is the community, saying the exchange of knowledge and wisdom between fellow artists makes the unique process behind his creations even more special.

Price range
$4000 – $5000

Where to shop
Find Marcel’s work on his website, or at Saint Cloche gallery in Sydney, where he is part of a current exhibition entitled ‘Liquid States‘, until April 23rd.

Amanda Dziedzic is known for her colourful glass creations! Photo – courtesy of Amanda Dziedzic

‘For something so delicate and fragile it sure commands a lot of you, mentally and physically,’ she says. Photo – courtesy of Amanda Dziedzic

Amanda’s recent glass vegetables have been capturing our hearts! Photo – Haydn Cattach

The radishes! Photo – Haydn Cattach

Amanda Dziedzic

If you’re a regular TDF reader, you’re probably already familiar with one of our favourite glass makers, Amanda Dziedzic! She’s become a master of the medium since she first experimented with blowing glass back in university more than a decade ago.

Amanda is a versatile creative who makes everything from realistic glass fruit and vegetables, to contemporary lighting, to abstract vases and vessels featuring dreamy swirls of colour. She was also the creator of our spectacular TDF Design Awards trophies, first released in 2019!

As somewhat of a veteran in Melbourne’s glass community, she also co-founded Hothaus Glass studio. Incidentally, the studio is having its last Open Haus Sale today before they move location – meaning there’s lots of beautiful pieces up for grabs here!

Price range
$100 – $1500

Where to shop
Find Amanda’s work on the Hothaus Glass website.

Eloise McCullogh (A.K.A Fools Glass)! Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files

Eloise creates beautiful and graphic lead light pieces! Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files

Photo – Shannen Johnstone

‘My background in design has certainly been useful, however, I had no experience in glass – it all happened quite organically and I haven’t looked back,’ she says. Photo – Shannen Johnstone

Eloise McCullough

Eloise McCullough of Fools Glass is one of the emerging creatives who are sparking a stained-glass revival. The Melbourne-based designer picked up the practice just a few years ago during Covid, and hasn’t looked back.

She makes eclectic and abstract frames (and homewares too!) that show how lead-light can be used for so much more than traditional church windows, and we can’t wait to see them hanging inside more homes!

Price range
$35 – $700

Where to shop
Find Eloise’s work on her website and Instagram

Lawn Bowls’ sweet glass faces bring a smile to our own faces! Photo – Finn O’Sullivan

Finn O’Sullivan (A.K.A Lawn Bowls). Photo – Jordy Smith

Photo – Jack Gibson

Her work is joyously kitsch! Photo – Finn O’Sullivan

Finn O’Sullivan

It’s hard not to fall in love with Lawn Bowl’s endearing smiley face plates! Based in Brisbane, Finn O’Sullivan handmakes each one of the playful dishes, dessert spoons and salad bowls, characterised by rainbow speckles of cut glass, little flower details and joyful colours.

Her style is wonderfully kitch – in the best way possible!

Price range
$60 – $370

Where to shop
Find Finn’s work on Lawn Bowls’ website, or in store at Pinky’s (Melbourne), Hands (Sydney) and Open House (Brisbane)

Drew Spangenberg’s work is minimal, yet colourful! Photo – Pippy Mount

His pieces feature meticulous detail. Photo – Pippy Mount

Photo – Pippy Mount

Drew Spangenberg

South Australian artist Drew Spangenberg has been working with blown glass 2011, when he got ‘side-tracked’ during his photography studies and came out with a glass major. ‘It’s safe to say, glass captivated me very quickly. Once I had the opportunity to try the process of blowing glass, I was hooked,’ Drew says.

There’s a careful attention to detail and composition behind his intricate stemware glasses, minimalistic tumblers, and diverse collection of bottles.

Price range
$160 – $13,000

Where to shop
Find Drew’s work on his website, or via JamFactory, Craft Victoria, and Makers Mrkt.

Danielle Rickaby (A.K.A Yo Dan)! Photo – Michael Haines

Her work is bold and dynamic! Photo – Michael Haines

Photo – Michael Haines

‘One of my favourite aspects of working with glass is the endless possibilities of techniques that I can use to create unique and beautiful objects,’ she says. Photo – Michael Haines

Danielle Rickaby

With over 10 years’ experience and an honours degree is glass, Danielle Rickaby handcrafts everything from functional glassware to sculptural installations, and even jewellery under her brand YO-DAN, using different glass techniques. They’re bold, cheerful, dynamic and beautifully made!

‘Whether you’re looking for a unique gift or a statement piece for your home or wardrobe, I hope that my work brings joy and adds a bright and vibrant touch,’ she says.

Price range
$65 – $1000

Where to shop
Find Dani’s work on the YO-DAN website, or various stockists listed here