Thomas Barter

Thomas Barters current work explores folded paper. He started making paper darts in glass and then quickly started on Origami objects. Thomas finds that the thinness of paper and the translucence of glass are a good fit. They are challenging objects to cast but have an intrinsic look that works well when done correctly.

Thomas received his BFA from Humboldt State University in California in Ceramics in 1988. Then spent 20 years making handmade tiles and large scale public artworks. During this time he shared a studio with a glass blower and a caster. This started his intrigue with glass, so when he moved to Auckland NZ in 2004 he took a casting course and started his exploration of the glass object.

His first works in glass were mostly flat back castings that were similar to his tilework. However he was also interested in making 3D forms. With ceramic expertise in mould making, the transition into lost wax casting happened quickly. He now almost exclusively uses cast glass as his media of choice.

Artist website