Robyn Irwin

Robyn Irwin was born Wellington, New Zealand in 1953. Irwin, who is a Clinical Psychologist by background, began studying glass in 1999. Since 2000 she has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in New Zealand, Australia and Denmark. In 2003 she received a Creative New Zealand Grant: towards a body of new work for duo exhibition at Masterworks Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand. In 2006 Irwin was awarded first prize in a members exhibition at NZSAG Conference, Auckland, judged by Robert Bell, Senior Curator National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Robyn Irwin's work is part of public and private collections nationally and internationally including the Collection of Ebeltoft Glass Museum, Denmark; Te Papa Tongarewa and the Sir Elton John Collection.

Robyn Irwin's flared forms stand apart from the usual. Shape is manipulated and altered and so these works traverse the bowl and the vase form while also being very specific references to the volcanic nature of the New Zealand landscape. They are inspired by memories of being in snow caves on the Tasman Glacier in and the high mountains and lakes of the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Her vessels also continue a creative exploration of the volcanic landscapes in the North Island's Central Plateau. Irwin loves the contrast of the melting soft white snow in the valleys with the exposed hard black rock ridges of the mountains. She places black and white glass within the refractory mould which allows her to 'paint' her picture before the heat within the kiln transforms the work. The final result is a meeting of human and natural forces.