Emma Varga

Emma Varga was born in Ada, Yugoslavia. She graduated from the University of Applied Arts in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, where she completed Masters Degree in Applied Arts, majoring in Ceramic and Glass Design. She currently works and resides in Sydney. Varga's work has been represented in major solo and group exhibitions in Australia, Europe, Asia and the United States. She has been the recipient of several major awards including the most recent Award of excellence at Habatat International Glass Invitational Award in 2009.

Emma Varga's glass works are represented in the following public collections: Art Trust, Melbourne, Australian National Glass Collection, Wagga Wagga, The Palm Spring Art Museum, California, USA; The Museum of Applied Art in Belgrade, Serbia; The Glass Museum Ebeltoft, Denmark; The Arrango Design Foundation, Miami, USA; The Interglass Symposium Collection, Czech Republic. Her work is held in major private collections in Australia, United States, Europe and Asia.

Emma Varga has perfected the technique of fusing and casting multiple layers of glass, using thin glass sheets, some of which are composed of tiny elements formed in mosaic-like patterns. She sets up layers that will make a three-dimensional image inside a large fused and cast transparent glass form.

Her pieces are fused and cast and then slowly cooled down. They are then ground and polished to create surface perfection. Only then is it finally possible to see the inside; all the fine details and veil-like structures floating in the sea of clear glass.

The exceptional and magnificent presence of striking colours in surrounding nature and the ocean prompted Varga to choose Australia for her home, finding it a never ending fascination.