The artists for the 2015 edition of the British Glass Biennale have been announced, with 76 artists selected from more than 200 applications. The 122 pieces of the artists will be on show during the event, embracing a vast range of glassmaking techniques.
Finalists for the British Glass Biennale, part of the International Festival of Glass have just been announced. 76 artists have been selected for this prestigious award from more than 200 applications. 13 of the artists are students and there are 122 pieces set to be exhibited at the British Glass Biennale, which runs from 28 May – 28 June in Stourbridge, West Midlands.
All selected artists have been living and working for the last two years in the UK or Northern Ireland but many originate from across the globe, including Costa Rica, South Korea, Israel, Sweden, Germany and Japan as well as glass artists living and working in the historic Stourbridge Glass Quarter.
The pieces embrace a vast range of glassmaking techniques including blown, kiln formed, slumped and engraved glass with pure clean crystal through to opaque vessels and pieces featuring surface painting and glass inclusions. Submissions range from the miniature to large-scale installations.
The 76 talented artists made it through the rigorous selection process, which was overseen by the Biennale panel made up of curator Janice Blackburn, writer Graham Fisher, glass collector Mark Holford, glass artist David Reekie and Ikon gallery director Jonathan Watkins.
As well as garnering a coveted slot at the acclaimed Biennale at this year’s International Festival of Glass, the artists will also be vying for one of several awards. These include The Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers of London award: Glass Sellers’ Art & Craft Award; Glass Sellers’ Art & Craft Award, Runner Up; Glass Sellers’ Art & Craft Student Award; Glass Sellers’ Art & Craft Student Award, Runner Up; Art in Action Award for Contemporary Glass; craft&design magazine award; craft&design magazine highly commended award and a new award for 2015, the London Glassblowing Emerging Talent Award. The headline award is the British Glass Biennale Prize. This acclaimed award is selected by the jury and is recognised as one of the most prestigious awards in the world of glass. All the award winners will be announced at the Biennale private view on 27 May 2015, with the exception of the craft&design magazine awards which will be announced when the Biennale exhibition closes on 28 June.
Elisabeth Johnson, International Festival of Glass Project Director said: “The quality of submissions was remarkable and the jury had a really tough time creating the shortlist. We were impressed with the variety of styles and range of techniques on offer and were particularly pleased to see so many student submissions, showing that the appetite for studio glass continues to grow. I can’t wait to see the final exhibition and am on tenterhooks for the awards evening on 27 May.”