Stephen Skillitzi

Stephen is principal of Glass Earth and Fire Studio in Brighton S.A. where he practices glass, metal and clay art. He graduated from the National Art School, Sydney in 1966 and gained a masters degree in Fine Art, University of Massachusetts, USA in 1970. He returned to Australia in 1970 to become one of the pioneers of artistic-glass furnace blowing and has been dubbed “Father of Australian Studio Glass”.

He has explored in a variety of scales from domestic to monumental. Recent blown glass explores a unique complexity of colour and design. Stephen, recognized for his defiance of conventional practice, is one of Australia’s most influential glass artists. “He has carved a reputation for professional leadership and creative innovation, and divides opinion with his individual style of expression, his robust delight in excess and in pitting opposing qualities against each other.

SUMMARY

  • Awarded Master of Fine Arts Degree, University of Massachusetts, USA, 1970
  • Leader in conceptual and technical innovation in Australian studio glass
  • Pioneered the Hot Glass Studio Movement in Australia
  • Over 30 solo and 100 group exhibitions in Australia and overseas
  • Author of articles in professional craft journals
  • 40 years experience as a tertiary educator and course coordinator in the Crafts
  • Strong communicator and motivator of students in vocational courses
  • Extensive experience in coordinating group and solo art performances

EXPERIENCE

       Education

  • Teacher of Ceramics (clay and glass) and Design. Emphasis over the years has oscillated between or gradually shifted from clay to glass blowing to glass casting and metal-electroforming. Vocational teaching has been integrated with personal art exhibition concerns.
  • Initiated a number of courses and concept developments for higher education in Glass Studies. He was the author of accreditation documents for the Glass and Ceramics Bachelor Design Degree, 1979 SACAE, and the first coordinating lecturer for this study.
  • Initiated glass blowing facilities in various tertiary institutions that have subsequently become incorporated into long term programs (including University of Massachusetts).

       Outreach

  • Strongly motivated and articulate commentator, writer and lecturer on a wide variety of topics including cast glass, electroforming, ceramics, design in crafts and the special interest area of "Australian Studio Glass History since 1970" .
  • Author of 12 articles published in Ausglass magazines and five articles in other Craft journals.
  • Overseas tours (1967-70, 81, 89, 90, 91, 96) with occasional lecturing at institutions with glass studios, and papers given at conferences and exhibitions, particularly in USA.
  • About 10 appearances on TV documentaries on Studio Glass since 1970.
  • Public glass blowing demonstrations during the pioneering days of the Hot Glass Studio Movement in the1970's.
  • Administrative and committee duties for Glass, Ceramics and Craft groups, including President of the Ceramics Study Group in 1973. He was a founding member of Ausglass in 1978 and one of only three attending all 14 conferences. He was judge of several ceramics and glass competitions.
  • He has been the subject of considerable media attention throughout a 40 year career.

    Artwork

  • Founded the multi-media, multi-directional studio (Glass Earth and Fire Studios) in 1982 at Brighton SA.  
  • Current areas; glass blown vessels and sculptures, kiln fired panels.
  • Held 30 solo shows and numerous group shows world-wide since 1966 in clay, glass and/or metals.
  • Received various awards, grants, prizes from 1966 including the "Kristallnacht Project" from USA in 1992.
  • Presented costumed, staged art performances in over 10 venues as an adjunct to sculpture exhibitions, or festive and ceremonial occasions.
  • Designed and produced kiln-formed glass plates for the commercial market (the Cosmos glass range).