3 - 19 March 2022
about the exhibition
Brenden Scott French has earned a reputation as one of Australia’s most innovative and thought-provoking glass artists. His sculptural forms and wall pieces make a radical shift away from the delicacy and transparency of glass, instead exhibiting a unique density and opacity of colour. The striking pattern and form developed in the artworks reflect a deep exploration of this rich and versatile material. Brenden’s graphic panel works arise from a kilnforming process where blocks of coloured glass are composed in layers to form spontaneous, yet harmonious, colour relationships. He describes this act as “a labour of assemblage”, slowly revealing an unfolding narrative that celebrates the passage of time during the creation of the works. Complex visceral surfaces are built using the distinct technique of pâte de verre and murrine roll-up. In this exhibition, Brenden also works with blown glass forms that combine conceptual themes with immense technical skill. After an inspiring residency at the Canberra Glassworks last year, new forms have emerged in his work which he combines with traditional shapes and motifs. Through these pieces, Brenden asks questions on a variety of subjects – identity, authenticity, landscape and power.
Brenden has trained extensively in glass practice, completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts at the Sydney College of the Arts in 1997 and a Bachelor of Art with Honours at the Canberra School of Art in 2003. Brenden has undertaken residencies at the Canberra Glassworks, University of South Australia and the Northlands Creative Glass Centre in Scotland. He has received numerous awards including the Ian Potter Cultural Trust Award (2001), the Lino Tagliapietra International Scholarship to study at the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle (2001) and the Stephen Procter Fellowship (2007). Brenden’s work is in several collections including the National Glass Collection in Australia and the Tacoma Museum of Glass and Boston Museum of Fine Arts in the USA.
