RETURN TO GLASS LIVES

Meet the Maker: Gregory Alliss

synopsis

Frustrating, unforgiving, time consuming, unwieldy, and brittle! Fragile, colourful, shiny, transparent, and mesmerizing. These two conflicting statements may both used to describe glass and glass art objects. One view is while making and one view is while looking at the same art work. This contradiction is why glass is my material of choice. 

 

The duality of its perception makes it so puzzling. This puzzle is made more complex when you consider the material properties of glass that are also full of contradictions. The challenge for me, is to master the idiosyncrasies and subtle nuances of glass to produce intriguing and pristine art works.

 

Glass is a ubiquitous material cherished for its transparent properties My work draws the viewer inside the glass. I want them to find something interesting beyond the shiny façade.

credits

A North Lands Creative Production made possible with support from Creative Europe & Creative Scotland In Partnership with – ISGNE, Glass Point, NCAD, Berlin Glas Ev. 

Image: Transparent Flow, 2019. Photography: Gregory Alliss

Film: Ewan Stewart – Filmmaker

ARTIST BIO
Gregory Alliss

Gregory Alliss is an artist working in glass and engineer.  He predominantly works with kiln casting and coldworking techniques working with optical glass and recycled glass. 

 

He is currently researching a PhD at the Edinburgh College of Art (ECA). Having previously gained an MFA in Glass also at the ECA. His PhD is practice based looking aspects sustainability in the context of glass art studio practice.

 

His recent artistic practice has been heavily focused on using waste recycled glass from Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs). The glass tubes were the key component of old-style televisions. His current work has expanded on this to investigate at the production of glass art made from non-traditional raw materials and glass art made from waste glass that is not traditionally used by glass artists. 

 

He has exhibited in UK, Spain, Austria, and Ireland, and has been published in journals and catalogues. His work is in private collections in the UK.

BACK TO GLASS LIVES

glass lives 2022

Glass Lives explores the human relationship with glass making and material. Uncovering some of the exceptional European master artisans using long-held traditions, skills and knowledge.

 

Glass Lives celebrates the visionary embodiment of both creativity and craftsmanship by European master artisans at the highest level of excellence. Supported by the EU Creative Europe Programme, collaboration lies at the heart of what the ISGNE network represents, encouraging exchange and fostering a sense of building a stronger glass community.