About Heather Olesen

Heathers passion for working in glass began in 2004, following on from ceramic sculpting when learning to sculpt wax, refractory mould making and casting glass by attending a Summer Master Glass course at Whanganui UCOL. It was the sensual and visual beauty of glass, the refracted light and the inviting illusions to support storytelling which truly captured her passion and imagination to begin working with such a challenging medium.

Originally sculpting with clay, the materiality change to glass sculpturing opened up for Heather new expressive ideas of internal and external viewing, which easily translated into new work. Experimenting with colour placement, reactions and glass flow encourage Heather's work to constantly evolve and develop with each new artwork. She continues to explore and utilise the diverse possibilities of glass colours and processes at her home studio in New Zealand.

Since this time Heather has continued to win numerous glass sculptural awards gained commissions through exposure from exhibits around NZ. To currently changing direction to now solely exhibit her work at her purpose built Gallery 153, including an outdoor sculptural area and student glass workshop space.

Inspiration

Work developments and inspiration often respond to narratives of family, relationships and surrounding environmental landscape. Relating to representation of memory & nostalgia, family, farming & home life, passing on generational knowledge, cultural heritage, growing and preserving food.

Often bringing to the fore, human responses to life expectations, experiences, our environment and how we choose to live in it. Leading Heather to reflect on intrusion’s into personal space, mindfulness and mediation, personal journeys and memories through the medium of glass.

Education

Heather’s artistic studies gained her degrees in Bachelor in Fine Art (Honours) and Master of Fine Art. Since commencing working with glass, Heather has also furthered her own artistic development through a series of Glass Masterclasses and workshops over the years with Master tutors from UK, USA, Japan, Germany, Europe, Australia and South America. Including holding glass Masterclass workshops in her own studio.

Heather is a member of New Zealand Society of Artists in Glass, and represented a term as NZSAG as President.