Nicole Mehnert

Nicole Mehnert's glasswork combines organic forms from nature, with a very human sense of use and play. Often starting with collections drawn from the world, glass as a material appears out of the world (it begins with the most basic of materials - sand), and also disappears back into it (we may find it strolling upon the beach). In between, it lives with us in our homes - on our shelves, collected upon a windowsill, and worn as jewellery on our bodies. It is this full lifecycle of glass that is apparent in Mehnert's work. Once these collections drawn from the domestic space or outside world take form, they provide the basis for bodies of work. Using the skills of glassmaking that have been passed down through generations, the material is brought to life as abstract shapes and jewellery that suggests the environments from which it came. At home in the gallery, or worn domestically, Mehnert's pieces speak about our position between the inside and the outside, always changing and becoming. The tricks and visual cues we enjoy in her work speak about the opportunity of play within this ever-changing present moment.

» Full Curriculum vitae available upon request (PDF)