LUCAS .html

Born:  Australia

Resides:  Australia

For Lucas Salton it all started at a dinner party 20 years ago, when he learned of a glassblowing apprenticeship on the Sunshine Coast.  This was the beginning of his long and loving relationship with glass, which now finds him traveling the world to work with other masters of the medium.

“Glass is alchemic. You mix dirt together, burn it with fire at about 1300°C, which makes it clear and molten, you control it with water, wood, air and steel and never completely master it. I love it,” says Lucas when asked about his choice of material.

As a boy he was fascinated by glass and all things shiny and started making small glass animals by sticking broken windscreen glass together he collected from the side of the road with his sister, Larissa.  These days, his gallery behind the Imperial Hotel in the main street of Eumundi, is filled a spectacular array of colourful glass including elegant triffids and striking totems, which have fast become his signature pieces.

Lucas, also a talented musician, draws his inspiration from rhythm in music, curves in plants, patterns on animals, clouds, landscape, sunsets, the ocean and the material itself.  Watching him work, you can feel his passion and depth as an artist as he creates magnificent flowing shapes, which come to life before your eyes.

“The material is amazing.  It can transmit, reflect and bend light. It is hard, yet fragile - making it precious. My work tends to have clean parabolic lines with rich colour or subtle qualities,” said Lucas. “It has an aesthetic sense that interested me after my 6-month artist residency in Japan and one that complements rather than competes with its surroundings.”

Lucas has a unique style of creating glass artworks, which have mesmerized his clients across the globe. His willingness to experiment and challenge the medium has resulted in a spectacular array of artwork and a reputation for excellence. While most glass artists create smaller pieces or build pieces through components, Lucas continues to experiment with larger pieces demanding incredible physical commitment and patience.

Lucas’ resume includes several installations in hotels, hospitals and private homes across Australia, as well as several international commissions. His work can be found in a selection of prestigious galleries within Australia and internationally. He has created many awards for the Premier’s Department and he completed commissions for Warner Brothers feature films ‘Ghost Ship’ and ‘Peter Pan’. Lucas has shown his work in Canada, Melbourne and Perth recently and is currently in San Francisco where he will be exhibiting at the Micaela Gallery.

EXHIBITION

2007	Group Exhibition at the Hilton, Brisbane Group Exhibition at Gallery O, Perth Group Exhibition at Glass Plus Gallery, Melbourne
2006	Solo Exhibition at Sajen Legal, Sunshine Coast, Qld Group Exhibition at the Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2005	Installation at the Sofitel Hotel, Dubai Contributed to the Chandelier Exhibition, Ladner & Fell Gallery, Melbourne Exhibited at the International Art &Craft Expo, Grand Hyatt, Dubai Exhibited at the Melbourne Affordable Art Show
2004	Two successful solo exhibitions at the Noosa Sheraton, Sunshine Coast, Qld Visits with glass masters in Italy and Sweden, relationship building with top galleries in Europe and the USA and researching potential exhibition locations Winner of the Sunshine Coast Region Export Award – Small Manufacturer
2003	Premiere solo exhibition at Sheraton Noosa, Qld Commission – Alamanda Private Hospital, Gold Coast, Qld Commission – Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, Qld Solo exhibition as artist in residency at Mulgara Gallery, Ayres Rock Resort
2002	Group exhibit with Craft Australia, Munich, Germany Sell out exhibition at Artifact Gallery, Tasmania Commissions for Warner Brothers feature films ‘Ghost Ship’ and ‘Peter Pan’ Commission and sculptural installation, Halos & St Pauls on Leichardt, Brisbane Commission special lighting project, public entrance, northern N.S.W. RSL venue Commission special lighting project, large scale, private collector Group exhibition with Pro and Kym Hart at Kym Hart Gallery, Marina Mirage, Gold Coast, Qld
2000	Major contract/installation – 320 works at Westin Hotel, $720 million redevelopment, #1 Martin Pl. Sydney, NSW Purchase Vesta Hot Glass. Develop studio, gallery and school, Eumundi, Qld
1999	Freelance gaffer for Vesta Hot Glass and Ricardo Glass, Qld
1998	Installation – Concord Hotel, Gold Coast, Qld Installation – Alamanda Private Hospital, Gold Coast, Qld
1997	Commission – Sunshine Coast Architect and Building Awards (also in 1998 & 1999) Commission – Awards for B.H.P. coal Contracted at Keith Rowe Studio, Blue Mountains, N.S.W. to assist Japan exhibition
1996	Attended Hot Glass demonstration by Lino Tagliapietra (Italy) assisted by Dante Marioni (USA) and Ben Edols (Australia)
1995	Japan – contracted as Teacher/Manufacturer for six months by Kurokabe Inc.
1994	Established personal studio at Belli Park, Qld Japan – conducted glass research and study tour (17 facilities over 5 weeks)
1993	Commission – Awards for Apple Macintosh, Inc. Acquisition by Embassy residence, High Commission of Brunei Darussalam, ACT Commission for Haji Yusof Bin Haji Abdul Hamid, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam Exhibitor – ‘Collectables’ exhibition at the Glass Artists Gallery, Sydney Exhibitor – Craft Expositions, Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne
1992	Appointed Studio Manager, hot glass dept., Buderim Glassworks, Qld Exhibitor at premier Brisbane Craft Expo, Brisbane, Qld
1990	Assisted construction of Mark Galton Glass Studio, Mapleton, Qld Commission – Award presented to the Lord Mayor of Brisbane Awarded the Certificate of Excellence, Nescafe Big Break Awards
1989	Assisted construction of Mark Kalifa Glass Studio, Maleny, Qld
1988	Trainee glass blower at Pantano Glass Studio, Dulong, Qld