Harry Morgan

Glass sculptor | Macclesfield, United Kingdom

A meeting of worlds

Harry uses concrete and glass
He creates strong geometric forms
His work is raw yet elegant

Harry Morgan spent his childhood summers working on building sites with his father. Back then he didn’t realise how big a role concrete would play in his life. In his craft Harry combines this strong opaque material with the translucent material that is glass, creating works that speak simultaneously of contrast and of balance. His process involves complex mould making and thousands of tiny glass strings, carefully arranged into geometric forms. Harry’s works stand as monuments to materiality. He tells us he doesn’t enjoy speaking about his work in public, and that he would prefer to be in the studio working. He is a maker who truly communicates through his skill.

Interview

©LOEWE Foundation

©Adam P Mane

Where did you learn your craft?: I studied glass at Edinburgh College of Art. I began to experiment with combining materials there. Firstly, I worked with molten metal and glass, and then moved to concrete. After college I worked with concrete in a production facility and learned a lot there.
Why do you work with concrete?: Concrete is great as it is cheap and easy to get hold of. It is a material that can vary a lot with simple sand types or mixes. I always have to experiment with the mix to get the finish I want for a piece. Getting the surface texture right is very important to me.
How do you construct the glass sections?: The glass sections are made up of ‘stringers’, that is very thin strings of glass. These are pulled in the hot workshop, from molten glass. I don’t see myself as a glassblower but I am pretty good at making stringers now.
Are the two materials equally important to you?: Yes, for me the two materials have equal weight in my work. I find that often if there isn’t a mixed media category for me, my work gets classified under glass.

Harry Morgan is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2014