Lisa's practice focuses on kiln cast glass and mixed media. Conceptual sculptures are predominantly made in cast glass using the lost wax technique, making refractory moulds and kiln firing the crystal glass.
Her glass making process relies on master mould making to replicate shapes and objects in wax forms to construct her works. Sculptural works explore repetition of form, using deconstruction and reconstruction methods, alternating between complexity and minimal. Concepts and works develop, evolving an existing collection or a new series.
Glass sculptures play on narrative, ideas explore human interference in biology, developments in science and how industry transforms our world.
Current work explores glass as a material and how it melts and flows. Playing with transition in colour variation so that when you look through the glass it appears as though something is shifting and trying to resurface.
Lisa Bate is a British glass and mixed media artist, working from her home studio located by the Taihiki River in Auckland, New Zealand.
Her contemporary glass works have received multiple awards of critical recognition. She was recipient of First Place at the 17th Estuary Art and Ecology Award 2023 for her glass wall panels 'Suspended Deposits' at the Malcolm Smith Gallery, Auckland. Cast glass sculpture 'The Pack IV' received a Merit Award hosted by the New Zealand Society of Artists in Glass at the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua, Whanganui in 2022. The glass work was selected by three honourable guest judges, in recognition of high skill in the medium of art glass.
In 2021, Lisa received an Award of Excellence from The Cleveland National Art Awards, Otago. Her sculptural glass and ceramic works were shortlisted for the R T Nelson Awards for sculpture in 2025 & 2022. Lisa's cast glass and mixed media sculptures have been shortlisted for the Waiheke national Small Sculpture Prize in 2022, 2021, 2020.
She was invited to exhibit at the prestigious international glass art exhibition Zwieseler Glasstage, in Zwiesel, Germany. Her kinetic glass work gained recognition in an Honorary Diploma from the Jutta Cuny-Franz foundation (Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf) in 2011, this work was featured in the publication Neues Glas magazine. Lisa was awarded a placement on the first 2 month metal and glass casting residency between North Lands Creative Glass and Scottish Sculpture Workshop in 2011.
Lisa achieved First Class Honours from a Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Crafts in 2010 from Falmouth University, where she specialised in kiln formed cast glass. She has experience teaching at several higher education art institutions, both in the UK and New Zealand. Before immigrating to New Zealand Lisa held the position of Senior Glass Technician at Falmouth University, here she completed a teachers qualification, Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Higher Education (PGCHE). In 2022 Lisa spent a term at Elam School of Fine Arts as the Ceramic and Casting Technician.
A member of the New Zealand Society of Artists in Glass (NZSAG) and was a contributing committee member from 2021 - 2023, promoting the work of art glass practitioners in New Zealand.
Works are exhibited regularly in New Zealand and has shown work internationally. Lisa’s work is held in both private and permanent collections in New Zealand and overseas.
Find her work at Public Record in Auckland or New Zealand Glassworks - Te Whare Tūhua O Te Ao in Whanganui.
