Pyramid Gallery owner Terry Brett with art glass by Bruce Marks
Exhibitions | 04-02-2025

Pyramid Gallery celebrates 30 years with Artglass exhibition

Marking an impressive 30 years of selling studio glass, Pyramid Gallery in York will showcase the work of 25 invited glass artists who have helped him along the way in a new exhibition called ‘Artglass’.

The exhibition, which will include glass sculpture, pictures and vessels, opens at midday on 22 March 2025 and continues until 11 May 2025. It can also be viewed online.

Gallery owner Terry Brett commented, “Choosing just 25 makers for this show has been very difficult. I have had to consider the mix of different types of work for the show, as well as the importance of the artist to Pyramid Gallery. Some of the names listed here are among the most influential glass artists in the UK – maybe the world. It feels very special, and a great honour.”

Bee glass sculpture by Nancy Sutcliffe
‘Bee’ engraved glass artwork by Nancy Sutcliffe.

Artists represented in the Artglass exhibition are: Sarah Brown (who will provide the [glass] cakes); Margaret, Amelia and Charlie Burke; Effie Burns; Keith Cummings; Fiaz Elson; Hannah Gibson; Crispian Heath; Catherine Hough; Monette Larsen; Peter Layton; Emma Mackintosh; Bruce Marks; Graeme Muir; Tracy Nichols; Tim Rawlinson; Colin Reid; Bruno Romanelli; Layne Rowe; David Reekie; Morag Reekie; Cathryn Shilling; Nancy Sutcliffe; Alison Vincent; Elliot Walker and Elizabeth Welch.

'Synchronous II' glass artwork by Cathryn Shilling.
‘Synchronous II’ glass artwork by Cathryn Shilling. Photo: Agata Pec.

Looking back on his 30 years as a gallerist, Terry said, “I knew nothing about the studio glass movement, or the making of glass, when I took over Pyramid Gallery in June 1994, but glass quickly took advantage of my passion for beautiful objects. The gallery was already stocked with blown glass by five makers, one of whom was Peter Layton, who had played a major part in the introduction of studio glass to the UK in the 1970s. On the very first day that the gallery re-opened, I sold a tall vase to a customer from Germany. It was a floral piece by Peter Layton and I can recall feeling a slight regret that someone was taking it away, but also excitement that he had paid a price that seemed exorbitant to me. I was hooked. I went to see Peter at the then-named London Glassblowing Workshop soon afterwards to purchase some more work. The gallery has continually stocked his work ever since, as well as work by his many associates and assistants.”

Terry bought the Gallery on 1 June 1994, initially running it with his then wife, Elaine Brett. At that time glass was quite well represented in the gallery, but it became more of a focus as time went on. When Elaine left the arrangement in 2008, Terry was free to indulge his passion for the medium.

“With encouragement and support from the Contemporary Glass Society, the gallery has become a point of excellence in this field,” Terry enthused. “Some 290 British glassmakers have shown their work at Pyramid in those 30 years and through the gallery’s close liaisons with the Contemporary Glass Society, a further 12 makers from France, Israel, Argentina, Japan, China and Finland have taken part in five themed CGS exhibitions here.”

Terry notes that one of the highlights of this show will be three cast optical glass sculptures by Stroud-based Colin Reid, who has supplied his work to Pyramid for more than 30 years: “I used to sell a lot of Colin’s scent bottles between 1994 and 1999, at which point he announced that he would cease making those items so that he could concentrate on cast, cut and polished sculptures. At the time I was concerned about the loss of a popular item, but rather than say goodbye, I requested a large pyramid form. It was expensive, but it was stunning. Within two weeks, the item had sold and, in that instant, Pyramid Gallery evolved into destination for collectors of art glass. Over the following 26 years, I have handled pieces of glass that can be counted among the best in the world. And this show will reflect that.”

ARTGLASS – an exhibition in celebration of 30 years selling Glass

Pyramid Gallery, 43 Stonegate, York YO1 8AW

Tel: 01904 641187

Instagram : pyramidgalleryyork

Main image: Pyramid Gallery owner Terry Brett holding a Bruce Marks ‘Bird’ artwork.

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