National Glass Centre

Kalki Mansel Glass, Thursday 12 January - Wednesday 29 February 2012

A chance to see unusual glass pieces by former University of Sunderland graduate Kalki Mansel, as well as his best-selling perfume bottles, bowls and vases.

Kalki first came across a glass studio at the age of 13 when his family moved to Northern Ireland from the South of England and glass immediately made an impression on him.

"I was instantly intrigued and after hanging out there at every free moment found myself part of the studio and captivated by glass and its unlimited freedom of creativity."

After finishing high school in 2002 to further his knowledge of glass he travelled to America to see and work in several artists' studios and gain an understanding of forming glass through different processes and techniques.

By the end of his time in America he found his passion for glass was heightened and upon returning enrolled in college to do A-levels with the goal of going to university to continue his interest and development as an artist.  In 2004 he started his BA (Hons) in Glass, Architectural Glass and Ceramics at the University of Sunderland and graduated in 2007.  In 2008 after travelling in Australia for a year, he returned to Sunderland and the North East where he began working for Jane Charles at her glass studio in Newcastle and for the National Glass Centre hot glass studio.  Today he is based in Sunderland as a practicing glass artist, as well as working for Jane Charles Studio Glass.

"The great sources of inspiration in my work come from: science, the natural world, technique, culture, colour, light, and form as well as working with the molten glass itself and I enjoy using this creative medium to combine, capture and represent these interests and inspirations."  --Kalki Mansel