Andrew Lavery

Research

Andrew Lavery is an artist and academic who exhibits both nationally and internationally. Through local and international research Andrew has developed a broad knowledge of traditional and contemporary approaches to the creation and use of glass in contemporary art, craft and design.

Lavery’s early creative works appropriated the aesthetics of periods in design such as Modernism and The International Style to create contemporary, non-functional, blown glass vessel object groupings. Driven by ideas exploring the relationship form to the phonetic sound of words and language, the defined outlines and transparency of the groupings created a pattern of positive and negative shapes similar to the inflections of sound when the title is read aloud. The resultant visual effect was a futuristic scene or skyline on the horizon.

Andrew’s recent work examines the colourful and banal elements of culture in large cities, using an array of assembled objects in glass and other media to produce sculptural works and installations. Themes explored include a glass skateboard that highlights the ironic failure of the materially driven stereotype in or his or her pursuit to own the ultimate object; and a group of bottles providing caricatures of a range of urban stereotypes and their jarring relationships. Andrew’s current research examines the generation and gentrification of working class suburbs and the relationships and psychological experience of change amongst the inhabitants.

In an exhibition profile that spans fourteen years, Lavery has developed a significant national and international profile. He is an active contributor to the discipline who regularly works and collaborates with artists and designers. Andrew’s unique contribution to the arts has been acknowledged by funding bodies, curators, galleries and institutions and through acquisitions of his work for public and private collections including Art Bank and The National Art Glass Collection. Andrew’s work has been included in several important books and numerous publications nationally and internationally.

He a Director of Ausglass (Australian Association of Glass Artists) and Chairman of the Organising Committee for the 2011 Ausglass Conference to be held in Sydney titled, Peripheral Vision.

Recent Solo Exhibitions

Emerald City, Artereal Gallery, Sydney, 2009

Another Day, Gaffa Gallery, Sydney, 2007

Soundscape, Twocubes, Sherman Galleries, Sydney, 2006

Futurescapes, Collect at Object Gallery, Sydney, 2006

Skyline, Object Gallery, Sydney, 2004

Two Cubes, Sherman Gallery, Sydney, 2004


Recent Group Exhibitions

Pilot Light, Canberra Glass Works, Canberra, 2008

City of Hobart Art Prize, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, 2007

New Glass from Australia, Chappell Gallery, New York, USA, 2006

M Generation, Kirra Galleries, Melbourne, 2006

Mindmaps, Craft Victoria, Melbourne, 2005

25 Years of Monash Glass, Monash Faculty Gallery, Melbourne, 2005

The Next Chapter, Sabbia Gallery, Sydney, 2005

Masters of Australian Glass, Sabbia Gallery, Sydney, 2005

Australian and New Zealand Glass – The Next Generation, Global Art Venue, Seattle, USA, 2004

Reflections, Wagga Wagga Regional Gallery, Wagga Wagga, 2004

Australian Glass, Anna Bibby Gallery, New Zealand, 2003

Less is More, More is Bore, Brisbane City Gallery, Brisbane, 2002

Formal Qualities, Object Gallery, Sydney, 2001

Glass Sculpture, Kirra Galleries, Melbourne, 2001

RFC Annual Glass Prize, Volvo Gallery, Sydney; QV1 Lobby, Perth; Craft Queensland Gallery, Brisbane; Wagga Wagga Regional Art Gallery, Wagga Wagga; Craft ACT Gallery, Canberra, 2000

Professional Memberships

Director, Australian Association of Glass Artists
National Association of Visual Artists (NAVA)
Glass Art Society (GAS), USA

Awards & Grants

2008 NAVA (National Association of Visual Artists) Marketing Grant
2007 Australia Council for the Arts: New Work Grant
2003 Australia Council for the Arts: Skills and Development Grant
2002 Scholarship Advanced Venetian-Style Glassblowing Andrea Zilio, Pilchuck Glass School, Washington, USA
2000 Finalist RFC Glass Prize
1998 Yarra Valley Anglican School Acquisitive Award
1998 Finalist RFC Glass Prize

All material is copyright of the artist, and written permission must be obtained for any reproduction in whole or in part.
For more information see the University of Sydney copyright disclaimer.