Gregory Alliss is a practising studio glass artist and engineer who lives and works in Edinburgh. He specialises in kiln-casting and coldworking techniques using optical and recycled glass. Gregory graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2019 and has won several awards for his glass. He is currently undertaking a PhD researching the qualities and potential use of waste/recycled glass and sustainable practice.
‘My work is made by combining conventional casting glass and recycled glass. I am inspired by cloud formations, and the juxtaposition of two types of glass creates a visible line which is used to reference the natural world. Combining this glass in the kiln pushes the boundaries of the material and reshapes what is possible in the process. Glass is a puzzle! I have two conflicting viewpoints which may be used to describe glass and studio glass: frustrating, unforgiving, time consuming, unwieldy, and brittle. Conversely, it is fragile, colourful, shiny, transparent, and mesmerizing. The first viewpoint is taken from the experience of making and the other is from looking at the artwork. This duality is why glass is my material of choice. The challenge is to master the idiosyncrasies and subtle nuances of glass into creating an intriguing object. Glass is a ubiquitous material cherished for its transparent properties. In my work, I aim to draw the viewer inside the glass. I want them to find something intriguing beyond the shiny façade.’ – Gregory Alliss
