Info
Margareth has received numerous prizes, awards and scholarships for her artwork and has participated in several international exhibitions and design fairs, such SOFA New York, the British Glass Biennale (UK,) 100% Design, (UK), Designers Block, (UK), Coburger Glass Prize Exhibition, (DE).
Her artworks can be found in private and public collections such as the Glass Museum Lette, Die Ernstign Stiftung Alter Hof Herding, Germany and former Broadfield House Glass Museum, UK now the Red House Glass Cone.
What craft do you work with and why?
I work with the medium of glass, and I am excited about combining digital production technology with traditional glassmaking processes. I love working with waterjet cutting using the process to combine intricately cut glass pieces in the creation of artworks. I am very excited about having recently invested in a small waterjet for my studio, through receiving local innovation money. This will enable me to carry on my research from my studio and carry on working within the digital craft field.
The fascination of the material qualities of glass is what draws me to work with the material. Reflection, refraction, the transmission of light and shadows! Its fragility yet rigidity! The vast range of techniques and processes one can use to make art! Having learned many technical aspects of traditional glass making from hot-shop to cold-shop , I feel passionate for the material.
What is your background?
I came to work with glass, through deciding to take a gap year abroad, after looking through a university prospect leaflet, where glass studies were a choice of study. At the time I thought that glassmaking was all about glassblowing, and little did I know about the range of possible techniques. A gap year at Wolverhampton University lead to a full BA Honours degree at The Surrey Institute of Art of Design, which in turn led to a Masters in Glass followed by a PhD at the University of Sunderland. I was awarded a fully funded scholarship by the Arts and Humanities Research Council to investigate the use of Waterjet cutting in studio glass practice, which I completed in 2011.
During my PhD I was also renting a studio space at the National Glass Centre and up until 2015, before relocating to my native North Norwegian valley of Beiarn, just north of the Arctic Circle.
My skill-base is broad ranging, in terms of production methods and application. It ranges across kiln-forming and hotglass processes.
My current favourite technique is using waterjet cut elements of glass and combining them in fusing to create artworks.
What inspires you to work with this craft?
Working as a material based practitioner, my ultimate passion is Glass. I am excited and passionate about innovation, research and how technology can be incorporated into traditional craft practice.
Crafts matter, as does the whole creative industry! Without it we would have nothing around us. Every object we use, every object we are surrounded by are designed, thought out and made by someone. I believe it is important to carry on recruiting new makers, and passing on the skills of making, so that they do not get lost. However, I believe that by combining digital technology with traditional making processes, helps bridging ancient crafts to the 21st century, adding a new dimension and interest in the subject field.
What are your plans for the future?
I am aiming to work on new permanent site-specific projects for interiors and public spaces.
I would love to make new glassand light centrepieces for Foyers, such as my glass and lighting installation “Aurora Syntax” at Kulturfabirkken in Sortland, Norway. Working directly with the architects during the construction of the building was a very rewarding experience.
My little dream is to establish a centre for glass art and architecture. I would love for artists and makers from all over the world to come work with me on exciting projects and collaborate in my future dream-studio.
I am always exited to learn new skills and have recently taken some silversmithing classes, and would combine it with glassmaking as well as incorporating 3d printing into my practice.
You can see more of Margereth’s work here:
- Website: www.margarethtroli.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/margarethtroli
- Other: www.cgs.org.uk/artists/troli-margareth