Carissa Baktay

Glass sculptor

©Magdalena Lukasiak

©Marino Flovent

Creating in fire and ice

Carissa shares the quiet nature of Iceland through the beauty of glassworks
She is inspired by the challenge of working with a technically-demanding material
She integrates different materials into her glass sculptures

Carissa Baktay creates quiet, soft and somewhat unsettling works that aim to expose the intrinsic qualities of glass. Her masters degree in glass in Portugal triggered her move from Canada to Iceland – in the warm sun, she missed the snow of her native Canada and decided to move to a cold country once more. Carissa sought out residencies in Nordic countries, and after a summer in Iceland, she decided to make the country her home. "I love a good challenge, which is what got me hooked on glass in the first place. I found it difficult and somewhat scary. Instead of giving up, I felt a need to master the material," she says. This desire to push boundaries is carried through into her artworks, which are experimental and deeply personal.

Interview

©Magdalena Lukasiak

©Magdalena Lukasiak

Where do you look for inspiration?: I am always looking to expose what is close, whether it is subjects close to my heart or materials close to me physically. I often integrate other materials with glass, which reflect my physical location at the time of making.
Where did you learn glass sculpting techniques?: I had a varied journey! I started with a college glassblowing course, then worked in research and development in architectural glass. I also studied in different glass art programmes in the USA and Portugal. This background directly feeds what I make today and how I make it.
Why did you choose to work across art and design?: I know that art is very exclusive – the pieces I make are not easily accessible and are also pretty intense. Through my design work, I aim to make more accessible pieces through creating moments of beauty focused on the material.
Do you think Iceland has changed your work?: The core is still the same but the mood, the landscape and the quiet beauty have seeped into my work. Some people claim there is no nature here, but you just have to look more closely. That is what I strive for in my work: beauty that draws you in and captivates you.

Carissa Baktay is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2007