Total Irreverence
Total Irreverence
by Elliot Walker£1,650.00
Elliot Walker’s Total Irreverence series explores the tension between technical mastery and the functional value in glassmaking. Inspired by Venetian goblets, these pieces demand exceptional skill to create, yet Walker deliberately destroys their functionality. By transforming refined drinking vessels, one of humanity’s oldest inventions, into non-functional forms, he elevates them from practical objects to theoretical art. The perceived violence in this transformation represents a rejection of traditional glassmaking dogma. Total Irreverence challenges the historical link between glass and function, inviting viewers to reconsider the relationship between craftsmanship, purpose, and artistic expression.
Hot-sculpted glass with hand-forged bronze nail by Sam Ritte and stainless steel shelf
Elliot Walker is a glass sculptor who discovered his passion for the medium after graduating from Bangor University with a degree in psychology. He is captivated by the vast spectrum of colours and textures that glass offers, as well as its ability to mimic other materials. These qualities provide Walker with the perfect foundation for creating his three-dimensional compositions and sculptures.
Creating his work requires extreme dexterity, speed, and precise temperature control to manipulate the molten glass. He finds the medium both captivating and challenging, enjoying the immediacy of working with glass while it is still fluid.
Drawing from his background in psychology, Walker approaches his creations from unconventional perspectives. His ability to defy traditional norms and intentionally alter viewers’ perceptions has made his pieces genuinely unique, instantly recognisable, and highly sought after. His studies in psychology continue to inspire his artistry, resulting in works that are not only aesthetically sensitive but also crafted with exceptional skill and brought to life through a rich narrative quality.
About the artist
Elliot Walker
I am a sculptor working with molten glass as my primary medium. I studied glass making in the Historic Glass Quarter, Stourbridge, where I developed my basic skills that are the essential foundation for creating works in this challenging medium.
