Glass artist Laura Quinn, originally from Mayo and now based in the UK, has been awarded by the Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI ) Future Makers programme.
Twenty-eight students and emerging designers and craftspeople received awards and supports, totalling €25,000, through the organisation’s Future Makers programme.
The announcement took place at a virtual awards ceremony recently, which was led by Toby Scott, design strategist and DCCI Board Member.
Laura received Exhibition Support of €1,000, with the judges commenting that: "She is to be commended on her juried selection for the prestigious ‘Collect’ exhibition and submitted an exciting and ambitious proposal that will make the audience see glass in a new way. It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to support that."
In 2015 Laura graduated from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin with a BA (hons ) in Glass Design, as well as a BA (hons ) in Art History and Design.
Sisyphus was the body of work she created for her BA degree show. The inspiration for this body of work came from the myth of Sisyphus, and how it is in the human experience to complete repetitive actions or tasks in the hope that there is an overall greater meaning. This body of work was primarily wearable sculpture, combining glass with other materials, such as rubber and metal.
After graduating, she worked in the Corning Museum of Glass, teaching the public how to make their own glass objects. By the end of 2015 she had also completed her internship in Olustvere Glass Studio in Estonia where she spent three months working as a glass blowing assistant.
In 2016 her journey brought her to Gloucestershire in England where she worked under a master glass blower in LoCo Glass Studio. Here she developed a love of making glass within the production setting.
Working in various studios around the world raised questions for Laura about the use of glass with other materials. In 2017 she began her MA in 3D Design Crafts in Plymouth College of Art.
Laura completed her Masters with a first class honours in 2019. Her final body of work included wearable glass pieces and glass lighting.
Using a combination of digital technologies with traditional glass making, she sought to create a sustainable body of work. Through use of modular and interchangeable design, her pieces become highly bespoke and offer the user a wide range of design possibilities.
Future Makers Awards & Supports is one of the largest prize-funded award programmes in Europe for students and emerging makers. The programme, which was established in 2009, assists the next generation of Irish designers and makers at a pivotal stage in their professional development.
Future Makers helps recipients to develop a career in the design and craft industry with exhibition supports, studio supports, materials supports, travel and training supports along with Future Makers of the Year Awards, design awards, and craft skills awards.
