Artist of the Month
December 2014
Kirstie Rea
Kirstie Rea is an independent studio artist working in Canberra, Australia. Her work reflects on what resides, embedded under the skin, as embodied energy. Her recent works explore recollections and ongoing activities that are inextricably linked to her home town, nostalgic reflections of growing up. The works and their arrangement aim to produce an experience that extends beyond the tangible. Kirstie Rea is represented by Bilk Gallery for Contemporary Metal and Glass, Canberra, Australia
Click on each photo to the right for a full picture.
Apricots - abundance, 2013; 33 x 33 x 27 centimeters; kiln-formed glass and shelf
River - Lake, Pool - we always swam, 2013; 45 x 88 x 14.5 centimeters; kiln-formed glass and rail
Folded 5. - Spring, 2014; 30 x 65 x 75 millimeters; kiln-formed glass
Knowing, 2012; 91 x 52 x 61 centimeters; kiln-formed glass and chair
Linger, 2012; 65 x 280 x 260 millimeters; kiln-formed glass
Folds of a soft grey day, 2014; 26 x 10 x 11 centimeters; kiln-formed glass, aluminum shelf
Kirstie Rea
Artist Statement:
Kirstie Rea's work explores the process for an artist of gathering – gathering ideas and inspiration. It is particularly inspired by nature and the experience of outside space. Her latest works present a combining of senses and the relationship between earth, air and sky. Ideas are abstracted and forms reduced but are still enlivened by light, energy and emotion. Prior to this body of work, Kirstie’s sculptures in steel and glass aimed at capturing the existence of the presence of a liminal space between the inside to the outside and the moment of crossing that threshold. These works reduce inside space to basic architectural forms in steel.
About Kirstie Rea
Having established her glass studio in Canberra, Australia, in 1987, following her graduation from the glass program at the Canberra School of Art, Kirstie has, over the past 28 years continued to develop her practice and career to become internationally recognized and respected for her works in glass.
She has exhibited widely internationally and her work has been included in numerous Australian glass survey shows. Kirstie has had solo exhibitions in Australia, the USA, New Zealand and Hong Kong, and her work is now included in international collections such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the National Gallery of Australia and the Alexander Tutsek-Stiftung Foundation in Munich, Germany.
Kirstie was a staff member of the Glass Workshop, Australian National University from 1987-2003, and was the inaugural creative director at the Canberra Glassworks, Australia from November 2006 to February 2008. She has taught in her field of kiln formed glass and cold working techniques across the world since 1987. These teaching venues include Pilchuck Glass School, USA; the Corning Studio, USA; Pittsburgh Glass Center, USA; North Lands Creative Glass in Scotland; and Vetroricerca School in Bolzano, Italy.
From 2003-2005 Kirstie served on the board of directors for the Glass Art Society (USA) and was closely involved in the organization and running of three international glass conferences. She also served on the board of directors of Ausglass and was a co-chair for the 14th biennial Ausglass conference Open House, held in Canberra in January 2008.
In 2009 Kirstie received the Ausglass Honorary Life Membership Award and in 2014 received the CAPO Fellowship 2015 Award (Canberra Arts Patrons’ Organisation).
Click here for an artist's resume.
Acknowledgment of Gallery:
We are grateful to Bilk Gallery for Contemporary Metal and Glass, Canberra, Australia, for providing the Artist of the Month.
The Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to further the development and appreciation of art made from glass.
The Alliance informs collectors, critics and curators by encouraging and supporting museum exhibitions, university glass departments and specialized teaching programs, regional collector groups, visits to private collections, and public seminars.
