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‘Prism: Light, Colour, Form’
Jun 2024 - Oct 2024

Judi Elliott / Australia NSW b.1934 / Platter: ... of how things are 1988 / Slumped, multicoloured glass mosaic / Gift of the Queensland Art Gallery Society 1989 / © QAGOMA

‘Prism: Light, Colour, Form’ considers the universal appeal of glass and its myriad applications, with the title referring both to the medium’s refractive qualities and to the various ‘lenses’ through which this display considers its materiality. 

Acting as windows onto the evolution of glass, the earliest artworks in the exhibition are the Roman-made Flask and Footed dish, both circa 1–500 CE, iridescent vessels that date back to the origins of glassblowing. ‘Prism’ surveys both the rich history of glassmaking and its sophisticated techniques. Of note is the work of artists who have stretched the medium’s conceptual potential, encompassing glassmaking’s effusive and playful turn in recent decades.
 

‘Prism’ is on display in GOMA’s Foyer Cabinet from 1 June to 20 October 2024.


Feature image: Judi Elliott’s Platter:  ... of how things are 1988 / Slumped, multicoloured glass mosaic / Gift of the Queensland Art Gallery Society 1989 / © QAGOMA

Collection artworks featured in ‘Prism: Light, Colour, Form’

Artwork Goose-necked sprinkler this artwork made of Hot-worked greenish glass with silver blue "Papillon" metallic lustre surface, created in 1899-01-01

Goose-necked sprinkler c.1900
Artwork Vase: Tulip #4 (from 'Vista' series) this artwork made of Kiln-formed murrhine glass, created in 1999-01-01

Vase: Tulip #4 (from 'Vista' series) 1999
Artwork Green flower this artwork made of Glass, silver and plastic, created in 1999-01-01

Green flower 1999-2000
Artwork Home comforts this artwork made of Fused glass, painted and blown, created in 2004-01-01

Home comforts 2004
Artwork Painted rum bottle (red) this artwork made of Enamel household paint on glass, created in 1988-01-01

Painted rum bottle (red) 1988-89
Artwork Vase this artwork made of Yellowish glass cased amethyst and acid-etched with a design of leaves. Pinched trofoil lip., created in 1890-01-01

Vase c.1900
Artwork Vase this artwork made of Hot-worked dark green glass with spherical body, created in 1960-01-01

Vase c.1960-68
Artwork Bowl: Encroachment this artwork made of Hot-worked clear glass overlaid amethyst and sandblasted, created in 1982-01-01

Bowl: Encroachment 1982
Artwork Flat red ochre coil weave dillibag this artwork made of Hot-blown glass with canes, created in 2021-01-01

Flat red ochre coil weave dillibag 2021
Artwork Carrot Cadillac this artwork made of Hot joined, blown and solid glass, created in 2008-01-01

Carrot Cadillac 2008
Artwork Cylinders and funnels this artwork made of Hot-worked clear glass shaded to opaque white and yellow, created in 1980-01-01

Cylinders and funnels 1980
Artwork Vase: Major this artwork made of Moulded green/blue glass, cased clear and sandblasted, created in 1995-01-01

Vase: Major c.1995-96
Artwork Flask this artwork made of Glass (blown) with iridescent degraded surface, created in 0001-01-01

Flask c.AD1-500
Artwork Baluster vase this artwork made of Blue iridescent glass body in baluster shape, with white padded and carved flowers, engraved trails and stained leaves, created in 1892-01-01

Baluster vase 1892-93
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Body ornament 1980
Artwork Vase with lugs this artwork made of Hot-worked amethyst glass, with clear glass lugs, created in 1980-01-01

Vase with lugs 1980
Artwork Cake this artwork made of Silver, glass and plastic, created in 1999-01-01

Cake 1999-2000
Artwork Now or? this artwork made of Fused glass, painted and blown, created in 2006-01-01

Now or? 2006
Artwork Painted rum bottle (black) this artwork made of Enamel household paint on glass, created in 1988-01-01

Painted rum bottle (black) 1988-89
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Open shell form 1987
Artwork Sphere: Tuz this artwork made of Hot-worked glass sphere, cased black over amber and sandblasted, created in 1989-01-01

Sphere: Tuz 1989
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Kink oil bottle 2011
Artwork Twin necked vase this artwork made of Hot-worked glass cased clear over mottled white enamelled soda glass of oviform shape with neck pinched to form two openings. Matt sandblasted finish, created in 1981-01-01

Twin necked vase 1981
Artwork Untitled 1 this artwork made of Kiln-formed and cut glass, created in 2003-01-01

Untitled 1 2003
Artwork Niijima CSOA 9/3 this artwork made of Glass, roll-up, created in 2000-01-01

Niijima CSOA 9/3 2000
Artwork Slug spud this artwork made of Hot joined, blown and solid glass, created in 2008-01-01

Slug spud 2008
Artwork Slumped dish this artwork made of Red, black, blue, pink and grey coloured canes of glass set in clear glass and slumped into an irregular arrow shape, created in 1985-01-01

Slumped dish 1985
Artwork Vase: Harpspelaren this artwork made of Hot-worked clear glass in the Ariel technique, created in 1953-01-01

Vase: Harpspelaren 1953
Artwork Footed dish this artwork made of Glass (blown) with iridescent degraded surface, created in 0001-01-01

Footed dish c.AD1-500
Artwork Set of three perfume bottles this artwork made of Hot-worked green, red and yellow glass cased clear and black with one wheel cut facet, created in 1988-01-01

Set of three perfume bottles 1988
Artwork Warm air this artwork made of Blown glass with cane drawing, cold worked, created in 2021-01-01

Warm air 2021
Artwork Majic portal this artwork made of Glass, silver and plastic, created in 1998-01-01

Majic portal 1998
Artwork Vase this artwork made of Hot-worked glass with a design of peacock feathers and iridised, created in 1904-01-01

Vase c.1904-30
Artwork Painted rum bottle (yellow) this artwork made of Enamel household paint on glass, created in 1988-01-01

Painted rum bottle (yellow) 1988-89
Artwork Platter: ... of how things are this artwork made of Slumped, multicoloured glass mosaic, created in 1988-01-01

Platter: ... of how things are 1988
Artwork Large vase with wisteria this artwork made of Yellow and purple cased glass, acid-etched and engraved with a design of wisteria, created in 1890-01-01

Large vase with wisteria c.1900
Artwork Iridised sphere this artwork made of Hot blown and iridised glass, created in 1989-01-01

Iridised sphere 1989
Artwork Vase: Biskra this artwork made of Mould blown blue glass with polished and matt finish, created in 1932-01-01

Vase: Biskra 1932
Artwork Split form this artwork made of Mosaic glass, fused, kiln-formed and wheelcut, created in 1987-01-01

Split form 1987
Artwork Herald of bad burgers II this artwork made of Hot joined, blown and solid glass, created in 2008-01-01

Herald of bad burgers II 2008
Artwork Float this artwork made of Hot-worked elongated teardrop shape glass shaded blue to mauve with white extrusion, created in 1982-01-01

Float 1982
Artwork Bottle this artwork made of Orange glass cased yellow (green in the mallet shaped body), with teardrop shaped stopper cased yellow/green over blue, created in 1950-01-01

Bottle c.1950-60
Artwork Vase: Flax pod 'Te Rito' this artwork made of Dark green lead crystal pate de verre, lost-wax cast, created in 1996-01-01

Vase: Flax pod 'Te Rito' 1996
Artwork The history of juggling in Egyptian gardens this artwork made of Lamp-worked glass, sandblasted and painted with polychrome colours, created in 1988-01-01

The history of juggling in Egyptian gardens 1988
Artwork Organic form this artwork made of Hot-worked opaque white, green and orange etc. coloured on cast glass stand, created in 1986-01-01

Organic form 1986

Related digital stories

An installation view of two fanciful creatures made out of glass; one is half-car, half-carrot and the other is a tall bird standing on a burger.
DIDACTIC

‘Prism: Light, Colour, Form’

Read DIDACTIC