Perhaps best known for his large blown-glass sculptures with applied pictorial imagery, New Zealand glass artist Garry Nash also makes more functional studio glass forms such as bowls and vases. Like most studio artists, Nash employs two distinct processes - he creates the form initially by working the hot glass which he later modifies by cold-working techniques.In hot-working the glass is free blown as a globe or bubble. The resultant shape is determined by the artist through blowing, spinning on the pipe, letting the glass run and controlling the form through different levels of heat. At this stage wet newspaper can also be used to shape the form of the vessel. Nash's work is distinctive in its large scale, where the difficulty lies in controlling the medium to combine great size with lightness of form.

One of his specilialties is gold-ruby, formed by dissolving pure gold in aqua regia , which is then mixed with the raw ingredients to make the glass.
White and blue platters are made by the opalino technique in which the glass is built up in a series of layers. Nash begins with a lump of solid glass on the pipe to which is added a gather of opalescent glass and two more layers of clear glass. The vessel form is then blown.This is one of the few techniques using applied colours which does not distort the form when the glass is blown. The colour remains an integral element, fused into the form of the vessel.To create the frosted milky look of some vases, Nash modifies the glass blank by sandblasting and acid etching. Clear glass patterns are then added by direct intaglio diamond cutting. He also uses murinis in some vessels (small opaque colured drops cut from large rods) to create an illusion of space and objects floating within.

Garry has worked in developing his skills for the past 25 years and has had international exhibitions including World Glass Exhibition , Hokkaido Japan, International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Michigan, USA, New Glass Art Forms Exposition, Despard Street Gallery, Chicago, USA and various New Zealand exhibitions at The Suter in Nelson, The Dowse Museum, Lower Hutt to name but a few.

Portrait Vase 2

Hand Blown Glass

Price $NZ1200

Size 33cm tall

Hand Blown Glass

Price $NZ330

Size approx.13cm tall x 26cm wide sold

Hand Blown Glass

Price $NZ398

Size 22cm tall

sold

Hand Blown Glass 1 off

Price $POA

Size 24cm tall

Hand Blown Glass

Price $NZ390

Size 17cm tall

Hand Blown Glass

Price $NZ390

Size 18cm tall sold