about the art
I capture fleeting moments through delicate illustrations in paper-thin glass. I love to transform common objects and occurrences into something extraordinary, using traditional craft skills to explore contemporary culture.
I have trained in a range of media and disciplines with a focus on glass making, particularly the process pâte-de-verre. This is a traditional technique of pressing glass powders or frits into a mould, it is a detailed and difficult form of kiln casting glass. However, it is the use of these fine frits that give pâte-de-verre its distinctive crystallised aesthetic and allows for specific placement of colours and line. I have been exploring this glass technique for several years now, combining it with my knowledge of intaglio printmaking in the making of the moulds, to bring my drawings to life. |
about the artist
Sophie Longwill is a multi-disciplinary artist who uses traditional craft skills to explore contemporary culture. She completed a joint major BA (Hons) in Glass Design and History of Art and Design in the National College of Art and Design in Dublin in 2016. In 2015, she was awarded an International Student Exchange placement at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) Glass Program in the USA. She was previously awarded a FETAC level 5 in Art, Craft and Design at Grennan Mill Craft School in Co. Kilkenny. She serves on the board of the Glass Society of Ireland.
Her work has been selected for international and national exhibitions. These include the Emerge, Bullseye Projects, USA (2018), Ireland Glass Biennale, NCAD Dublin (2017), Stanislav Libensky Awards, DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, Prague, Czech Republic (2016), National Craft Awards, RDS, Dublin (2016), Enantiodromia at Gallery Zozimus, Dublin (2016), Granularity, Contemporary Glass Society, Online Exhibition, UK (2015), The International Student Exhibition, Glass Art Society Conference, San Jose, California, USA (2015), and Pop Up exhibition, The Glass Olympics, Alfred University, New York, USA (2015). Her work can be found in the permanent collections of Irish Life, Kildare County Council offices and the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art. EXHIBITIONS 2019 I see crimson, I see red, Elizabeth Fort, Cork, Ireland (selected) 24th January- 2nd February 2017 2016 Ireland Glass Biennale, National College of Art & Design, Dublin Stanislav Libensky Awards Exhibition, DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, Prague, Czech Republic (selected) Let’s Hook Up, Solo Exhibition, MADE Store & Gallery, Dublin RDS Craft Awards 2016 Exhibition, Dublin & Mayo, (selected) Emerging Artists Exhibition, Courthouse Arts Centre, Co. Wicklow (selected) NCAD Degree Show 2016, National College of Art & Design, Dublin Enantiodromia, Gallery Zozimus, Dublin 2015 Granularity, Contemporary Glass Society, Online Exhibition, UK Glass Arts Society Student Exhibition, San Jose, California Glass Olympics Student Exhibition, Alfred University, New York 2014 Kildare Artists Notebook Project, Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, Co. Kildare 2013 National College of Art and Design Core Exhibition, Mixed Media Student Exhibition, NCAD Dublin Mary Wishing Tree, Installation, Something about Mary Collective, Body & Soul Festival, Co. Westmeath 2012 Mary Wishing Tree, Installation, Something about Mary Collective, Body & Soul Festival, Co. Westmeath Mary Wishing Tree, Installation, Something about Mary Collective, Electric Picnic Festival, Co. Laois Summer Exhibition, Grennan Mill Craft School. Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny AWARDS 2019 Finalist ISGNE Artist in Residence award, Berlin Glass and Northlands Creative 2018 Emerge Awards, Finalist, Bullseye Projects, USA 2016 Stanislav Libensky Awards 2016 Exhibitor, DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, Prague, CZ RDS Craft Awards Exhibitor, RDS Dublin & Museum of Country Life, Mayo 2015 International Exchange in Southern Illinois University, IL, USA 2014 Irish Life Design Project, Winning Design PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 2016 Let’s Hook Up, Pate de Verre Glass and Textiles, Stanislav Libensky Awards Collection, Dox Centre for Contemporary Art, Prague, CZ 2014 The Journey, Glass and Ceramic Sculpture, Irish Life Art Collection, 2007 Piggy Bottom, Limited Edition Intaglio Print, Kildare County Council EDUCATION 2012-2016 Bachelor of Design (Hons) Glass and History of Art and Design, National College of Art and Design, Dublin 2010-2012 FETAC level 5 Art, Craft and Design, Grennan Mill Craft School, Kilkenny 2007-2009 Bachelor of Design (Hons) Industrial Design, (candidate), National College of Art and Design, Dublin |