Ned Cantrell has been blowing glass for over thirty years. He is known in particular for his sculptural works which are exhibited internationally and are included in notable museum and private collections. His playful creativity has placed him on the cutting edge of innovative glassmaking.
Hot-sculpting glass is a painstaking and controlled process. Very similar to (and sharing many techniques with), traditional glassblowing the 1100ºc molten glass is formed directly out of a furnace. The glass is formed on the end of a blowpipe using only primitive hand tools such as scissors, tweezers and paddles...
Ned Cantrell is obsessed with the craft and his work displays a virtuoso mastery of the material. His work references the craft and traditions of glassblowing but also investigates the expressive qualities of this unique material.
Blown glass signifies status, exclusivity and elitism. It is a high cultural medium. Much of Ned Cantrell’s work consists of colliding high culture with low culture, observing and reflecting over the absurdities that arise. The conflict arises between the subject’s ephemeral nature and the high level of craftsmanship.
He likes to deceive the viewer. Making the glass imitate plastic, skin or french fries. Playing with physical weight and visual lightness, the illusion of unbalance or movement. Investigating properties of glass, both physical and conceptual, and how they affect the perception of his work.
C.V. for Ned Cantrell, 1975
2023 Started Cantrell Glass
2004-2023 Co-owner of Nyholm Cantrell Glas with Karen Nyholm
Education
1992-94 ND.Colchester Institute School of Art and Design, UK
1994-97 BA(Hons). Surrey Institute of Art and Design, Farnham, UK
2000-01 Glas& Keramikskolen på Bornholm, DK
Collections
Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, Denmark
Gernheim Glassmuseum, Germany
CERFAV, France
Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, Germany
Glazen Huis, Belgium
Grassi Museum, Germany
Nasjonalmuseet, Norway
Nøstetangen Glassmuseum, Norway
Hsinchu Glassmuseum, Taiwan
Ernsting Stiftung, Germany
Hempels Glasmuseum, Denmark
Tacoma Museum of Glass, USA
Novotny Glass Museum, Czech Republic
Centre du Verre Contemporain, France
Awards and Grants
Coburger Glaspreis Audience Award 2022
Hempels Glasprize 2018
Danmarks Nationalbanks Jubilæumsfond af 1968, 2018
Århus Kommunes Kulturudviklingspulje, 2013
KIC Prisen 2012
Statenskunstfond, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Kunsthåndværkerprisen af 1879, silver medal, 2011
Galleri Grønlunds Hæderspris 2008
Konsul G, Jorck & Hustru E, Jorcks Fond, 2000
Selected Exhibitions
2023 “In the Heat of the Night” Continuum Gallery, Germany
Galleri Nijenkamp, Denmark
Galleri Oxholm, Denmark
“Glass Glass Glass” Kunstbanken Hamar, Norway
2022 “Coburg Glass Prize” Germany
“Her og Nu”, Frederikshavn Kunstmuseum, Denmark
“Soundtracks”, Tacoma Museum of Glass, USA
2021 “Wild Things”, Galleri Oxholm, Denmark
“Vaser”, Hempels Glasmuseum, Denmark
“Fluid Formations”, Whatcom Museum, USA
2020 “Nyt I Samlingen”, Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, Denmark
2019 “High Resolution”, Grønbechs Gård, Denmark
2018 HempelsGlasmuseum, Denmark
“Japan Retur”, A Petersen, Denmark
“Handmade-ScandinavianGlass Starting All Over”,
Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, Denmark
2017 “Great Danes”, Hempels Glasmuseum, Denmark
“Handmade-ScandinavianGlass Starting All Over”;
The Glass Factory, Sweden. Riihimäki Glass Museum, Finland
“Glass is More”, Österlens Glashytta, Sweden
“Latiner Erotique”, Galleri Lyrum, Denmark
2016 “Great Danes”, Glazenhuis, Belgium
Hsinchu Glassmuseum, Taiwan
2015 GRASSI Museum für Angewandte Kunst Leipzig, Germany
”The Little Match Girl” Nøstetangen Glasmuseum, Norway
“Fandenivoldsk” The Glassery, Stockholm, Sweden
“Watch Out!” Galleri Udengaard, Denmark
“DG15” Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, Denmark
2014 “Bodytalk” Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, Denmark
“Bodytalk” GlazenHuis, Belgium
“Animal Planet”, European Glass Festival, Poland
”Coburger Glaspreis”, Coburg, Germany
“Makers of Today”, Kunsthal Nord, Aalborg, Denmark
2013 ”The Study” Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, Denmark
The Glassery, Stockholm, Sweden
”Statement”, TheGlass Factory, Boda, Sweden
”Glaspuster” Craft2eu, Hamburg, Germany
”Im Dialog mit dem Barock”, Schleissheim, Germany
2012 Substans ”Bredgade Kunsthandel, Denmark
2011 The Glassery, solo udstilling, Stockholm, Sweden
Kunsthåndværkerprisen af 1879, Design Museum, Denmark
”Substans” Bredgade Kunsthandel, Denmark
“Amazing Vases”, Craft2eu, Hamburg, Germany
“Homage to Bornholm” Denmark
Galleri Saltum, Denmark
The Glassery, Sweden
2010 Silkeborg Kunstnerhus, Denmark
Vevringutstillinga, Norway
Kanasawa, Japan
Galleri Nielsen, Denmark
SOFA New York, with Galleri Udengaard, USA
Galleri Ulriksholm, Denmark
2009 SOFA Chicago, with Galleri Udengaard, USA
“Showtime” Craft2eu, Hamburg, Germany
“ Trinkfest” Craft2eu, Hamburg, Germany
”Ashes to Ashes” Contemporary Art Centre of Virginia, USA
2008 ”Emerging Glass Artists” Gallery Sklo, Korea
Art Herning with Galleri Gønlund, Denmark
Art Copenhagen, with Galleri Grønlund, Denmark
SOFA Chicago, with Galleri Grønlund and Micaela Gallery, USA
“Cold and Hot 2008” Micaela Gallery, San Francisco, USA
”Salon 2008” Micaela Gallery, San Francisco, USA
2007 SOFA Chicago, with Galleri Grønlund, USA
“Cold and Hot 2007” Micaela Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Art Copenhagen, with Galleri Grønlund, Denmark
“Novus + Neos” Micaela Gallery, San Francisco, USA
ProKK, Århus, Denmark
”En Delelig Helhed” Galleri Grønlund, Denmark
”Dansk Glas i Kina”, China
”Venice, Hidden Faces”, Strand Gallery, Aldeburgh, UK
“Young Glass”, Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, Denmark
”Venetiensk for Fortsættere” Galleri Grønlund, Denmark
PALAUR,Silkeb org, Denmark
2006 “Transparent Realisme” NNKS, Svolvær, Norway
KIC, Århus, Denmark
Art Copenhagen, with Galleri Grønlund, Denmark
2005 ”Åbneværksteder” Århus, Denmark
2004 ”Pilgrim” Vadstena Slot, Sweden
”Dansk Glas 2004” Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, Denmark
2003 ”Extravagante Uppenbarelser” Vadstena Slot, Sweden
2002 ”Talente 2002” Munich, Germany
Forsbergs Gallerier, Härja, Sweden
”Demonstrating New Talents” Hartzviller, France
Chateau de Luneville, France
2000 Galerie Handwerk, Munich, Germany
1999 Galerie L, Hamburg, Germany
1998 ”8 GL” Galleri Ikaros, Gothenberg, Sweden
Astra Konstforening, Gothenberg, Sweden
1997 The Candid Gallery, London, UK
“Glass of ‘97” Dudley, UK
