A founding force in studio glass
- Peter is one of the fathers of British studio glass
- He reinvented glass as an artistic medium
- Artist, pioneer and mentor, he founded London Glassblowing
Without Peter Layton’s extraordinary dedication to glass, the studio glass landscape would not be what it is today, and not only in the UK. Originally trained as a ceramicist when “England had no market for studio glass, and craft galleries focused solely on ceramics, jewellery and macramé,” Peter encountered glass art in the USA in the late 1960s. He fell in love with this medium straight away. Since then, promoting glass as an art form has been his life's mission, and one he has succeeded at with global recognition. Peter is the author of several key books about glass art. In 1976 he founded London Glassblowing which is one of Europe’s foremost glass art galleries and one of the longest running hot glass studios, bringing together some of the best talents of this fascinating craft under the same roof.
Interview
- What made you fall in love with glass?
- There was something secret and mysterious about glassblowing when I started and there was no market at all in the UK for glass art. When I encountered it, in the USA in the 1960s, I immediately felt this new medium under my skin. I love its spontaneity, the limitless potential, the possibility to reinvent it completely.
- What inspires you?
- My inspiration can spring from a natural detail – such as an ordinary pebble – but my work can also be much more political and subversive. I was one of the first artists with an environmentally conscious attitude, such as in my 1970s series called Please keep off the grass.
- What is your key talent?
- I profoundly love the material itself and the adventurous process, which are the key aspects for anyone approaching glass. My key talent is collaborating with people who contribute to what I do: the people in my studio are the best in the world!
- Do you have any advice for young artists starting out in your craft?
- Glassblowing demands enormous dedication and the working is extremely expensive, especially the hot studio, so many people give up. If you work in London, you have to sell a lot to survive. But it is worth it!
Peter Layton is a master artisan: he began his career in 1976 and he started teaching in 1976
Where
Peter Layton
