Statement
Lisa's practice focuses on kiln formed cast glass and incorporates mixed media. Conceptual works are predominantly made with the lost wax technique using refractory moulds. Ideas explore human interference, developments in science and how industry transforms our world.
Cast glass making is a slow process, relying on master moulds to replicate shapes and objects in wax forms to construct works. Investigating repetition of form, using deconstruction and reconstruction methods, alternating between complex and minimal. Concepts and works develop, evolving an existing collection or a new series.
Recent work explores embedding inclusions and colour transitions, how the glass material behaves in the kiln in its molten fluid state.
Bio
Lisa Bate is a British contemporary glass and mixed media artist, located in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, New Zealand.
Lisa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Contemporary Crafts 2010 from Falmouth University, where she was drawn to glass material and the complexity of kiln casting. She completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Higher Education in 2013 at Falmouth University, where she held the position of Senior Glass Technician. She also spent a term at Elam School of Fine Arts in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in 2022 as a Ceramic and Casting Technician.
Since establishing her studio and developing her practice in New Zealand, has now received several awards, including recipient of First Place at the 17th Estuary Art and Ecology Award in 2023 for her glass wall panels 'Suspended Deposits' (Malcolm Smith Gallery, Auckland). Works have been shortlisted for the R T Nelson Awards for Sculpture in 2025 and 2022 and the Perpetual Guardian Small Sculpture Prize 2026, 22, 21 and 2020 (Waiheke Art Gallery - Te Whare Taonga O Waiheke). Cast glass work 'The Pack IV' received a Merit Award hosted by the New Zealand Society of Artists in Glass (Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua, Whanganui) in 2022, in recognition of high skill in the medium of art glass. In 2021, received Award of Excellence from The Cleveland National Art Awards, Otago.
Her work has featured at international exhibitions including the British Glass Biennale 2026 (The World of Glass - St Helens, Merseyside), Zwieseler Glasstage (Waldmuseum, Germany) 2020. Kinetic glass work gained recognition in an Honorary Diploma from the Jutta Cuny-Franz Foundation (Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf) 2011. Lisa was awarded a placement on a Metal and Glass Casting Residency between North Lands Creative Glass and Scottish Sculpture Workshop, 2011.
Lisa has exhibited work in the UK, Germany, Norway, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Works are held in both private and public collections in New Zealand and overseas.
Find work at Public Record in Auckland or New Zealand Glassworks - Te Whare Tūhua O Te Ao in Whanganui.
