Tim Edwards (artist)
Tim Edwards (born 1967) is an Australian glass artist based in Adelaide, South Australia. He works at JamFactory and at his home studio with fellow glass artist and life partner Clare Belfrage.
Early life and education
[edit]Tim Edwards was born in 1967[1] in Millicent, South Australia.[2]
In 1988[3] he started studying at Deakin University's art school in Warrnambool,[4] where he graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts (Applied Art) degree, with major studies in ceramics and sculpture. In 1991 he received a graduate diploma in ceramics from the University of Tasmania in Hobart.[3]
In 1992 he trained in ceramics with Stephen Bowers, before completing a traineeship in glass art with Nick Mount[5] in 1996 (becoming the first artist in the JamFactory's history to undertake a second traineeship).[6]
He has also undertaken training at the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington, US.[5]
Career
[edit]Edwards worked as an artist at Blue Pony studio in Adelaide from 2001 to 2008.[5]
He is closely affiliated with JamFactory, and as of 2022[update] is senior technician and artist at its Glass Studio.[2]
From December 2024 to March 2025, his work was exhibited in a major JamFactory exhibition called Gathering Light, which was developed to coincide with Chihuly in the Botanic Garden, an outdoor exhibition of the work of Seattle glass artist Dale Chihuly in the Adelaide Botanic Garden. The exhibition also celebrated 50 years of glassblowing at JamFactory and the connections between the glass art communities of Adelaide and Seattle, in particular the Pilchuck Glass School. The work of six glass artists were displayed, the other five being Nick Mount, Liam Fleming, Kristel Britcher, Clare Belfrage, and Jessica Murtagh.[7][8][9]
Practice
[edit]Observing natural objects, shapes, and patterns, Edwards draws in lead pencil or black pen, planning glass forms in the drawings.[10] He first blows or shapes his work in the hot shop, and then carves, cuts or grinds the glass, using a lathe with diamond and stone wheels. He mostly creates vessels.[5]
He has said:[5]
I am interested in the way things are seen and perceived. This becomes even more curious when there is some form of deception – that tug of war between seeing and knowing. For years I've looked at the way objects are rendered in the mediums of film, animation, comics and graphic novels. These varying graphic qualities feed into both my drawing and glassmaking.
For his 2022 prize-winning work Ellipse #8, he first spent about two hours blowing the piece, with help from assistants at JamFactory's Glass Studio. It then took him around 35 hours in his home studio "grinding perfect ovals out of the glass using high-end German stone and diamond tools".[11]
Teaching and other activities
[edit]Edwards has taught in the United States at the Pilchuck Glass School, as well as the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine, and Ohio State University, where he was Scholar in Residence.[5]
He has also written a number of articles and essays, which have been published in books and journals such as New Glass Review.[3]
Recognition and awards
[edit]- 1997: Scholarship, Pilchuck Glass School, Washington, US[3]
- 1997: First prize, Barbara Wallace Memorial Exhibition, South Australia[3]
- 2004: Short Notice Grant to attend SOFA Chicago (Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design), from Arts South Australia
- 2006: Rakow Commission from the Corning Museum of Glass (the second Australian to receive this major award)[5][3]
- 2007: Artist-in-residence at the Tacoma Museum of Glass.[5]
- 2018: A featured artist in the 2018 Adelaide Biennial,[5] Divided Worlds[6]
- 2022: Tom Malone Prize, at the Art Gallery of Western Australia,[2] for his work entitled Ellipse #8.[12]
In addition, Edwards has received a number of grants from the Australia Council and Arts SA.[3]
Personal life
[edit]Edwards is married to Clare Belfrage, who is also an internationally acclaimed glass artist, and they have two sons.[13] They share a home studio[14] in the Adelaide suburb of Kensington.[15]
Selected exhibitions
[edit]Group
[edit]Edwards' work has been exhibited in numerous group exhibitions, including:[3]
- 1993: New Issues, Anima Gallery, Melbourne
- 1997: Barbara Wallace Memorial Exhibition, Millicent Craft Centre, Millicent, South Australia
- 2002: Australian Glass, Mitukoshi International Glass Art Festival, Taiwan
- 2004: Clare Belfrage and Tim Edwards, Recent Works in Glass, Foster/White Gallery, Seattle
- 2008: Duologue, a two-person show with Clare Belfrage at JamFactory, Adelaide
- 2009: Limited Lines, Canberra Glassworks, Canberra
- 2018: Divided Worlds: Adelaide Biennial at the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
- SOFA Chicago (several times)
- Adrian Sassoon galleries around the world (several)
- Traver Gallery in Seattle, US (several times)
Solo
[edit]- 2002: Tim Edwards, JamFactory, Adelaide[3]
- 2004: BMG Art, Adelaide[3]
- 2008: Wexler Gallery, Philadelphia, US[3]
- 2016: A Journal, Sabbia Gallery, Sydney[3]
- 2018: Seeing and Knowing, Traver Gallery, Seattle, US[3]
- 2021: Elements, Sabbia Gallery, Sydney[3]
- 2022: Perception Deception, in the Phone Booths at the Adelaide Railway Station[2]
- 2024: Gathering Light[8]
Collections
[edit]Australia
[edit]- Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide[16][3]
- Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth[16][3]
- National Art Glass Collection, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales[16][3]
- National Gallery of Australia, Canberra[16][3]
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne[16][3]
Elsewhere
[edit]- Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York state, US[16][3]
- Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington, US[16][3]
References
[edit]- ^ "Tim Edwards". Adrian Sassoon. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Exhibition Insight... Tim Edwards: Perception Deception". JamFactory. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Tim Edwards: Curriculum Vitae" (PDF). Adrian Sassoon. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "Tim Edwards". Jan Murphy Gallery. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Tim Edwards". sabbia gallery. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ a b "About". Tim Edwards. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ Neylon, John (11 December 2024). "Gathering Light: You'll be blown away by these glass works". InDaily. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Feature.. Gathering Light". JamFactory. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ "How Liam Fleming cast his career in glass". InDaily. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ Ewington, Julie (5 August 2019). "Tim Edwards". AGSA - The Art Gallery of South Australia. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "'Perception and deception': Australian glass art prize winner plays tricks on the eye". the Guardian. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ Keft, Ellie (3 June 2022). "Tim Edwards Announced Winner of Tom Malone Prize". green magazine. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ Belfrage, Clare; Edwards, Tim (25 September 2019). "Creative couples: marriage between two of Australia's best glass artists" (audio +text). ABC listen (Interview). Interviewed by Walker, Alice. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "Tim Edwards". Art Gallery of Western Australia. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "Clare Belfrage: Glass sculptor". HomoFaber. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Tim Edwards". The Art Gallery of Western Australia. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
Further reading
[edit]- "Article: Glass in Australia". Australian Design Centre. 29 October 2020.
External links
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