Mirage: Glass in the 4th Dimension
6 - 29 June
London Glassblowing and the Contemporary Glass Society present "Mirage," an exhibition exploring the extraordinary optical illusions possible in contemporary glass art.
Stacey Poultney
70 Selected CGS members from across the UK will exhibit alongside Peter Layton, Tim Rawlinson, Layne Rowe, and Katharine Coleman MBE. This juried show celebrates how glass artists manipulate form, colour, and light to create mesmerising effects - from subtle refractions to complex reflections that transform as viewers move through the space.
Helen Restorick
"The more I see what people do with glass the more amazing I find it," shares Will Budgett, Gallery Assistant at London Glassblowing, who initiated the theme for the exhibition. "What constantly amazes me is how glass can deceive and delight - the way it creates refractions, reflections, and illusions that draw people in as they explore the gallery. Looking beyond the surface at all of these qualities, and other illusions the glass creates is astonishing. It is always these extra tricks that constantly draw people's eyes. Having artists specifically focus on these magical properties promises to create something truly spectacular."
Join us in exploring glass art that challenges perception and reveals new dimensions of visual experience.
Verity Pulford
Exhibitor List
Alexander Pearce • Alison Jardine • Alison Stott • Ana Laura Quintana •Anna Alsina Bardagí • Annica Sandström & David Kaplan • Beth Colledge • Bethan Yates • Bruce Marks • Brynn Hill • Catherine Forsyth • Cathryn Shilling • Caz Hildebrand • Charlotte Wilkinson • Claire Hall • Daisy Parkinson • Deborah Timperley • Dovile Grigaliunaite • Elin Isaksson • Elizabeth Šinková • Gail Turbutt • Georgia Redpath • Graeme Hawes • Harriet Thorne • Helen Brough • Helen Carr • Helen Restorick • Helen Slater Stokes • Iain Smith • Ian Chadwick • Jade Pinnell • James Maskrey • Jane Reeves • Jane Yarnall • Jeff Zimmer • Jianyong Guo • Jiayun Ding • Jo Guile • Jo Mitchell • Jon Lewis • Joshua Kerley and Guy Marshall Brown • Julie Coakley • Katharine Coleman MBE • Katharine Dowson • Kerry Collison • Layne Rowe • Lisa Pettibone • Louise Hawkins • Malvinka Bitelli • Maria Zulueta • Mils Bridgewater • Morag Reekie • Nancy Farrington • Nancy Sutcliffe • Opal Seabrook • Philippa Beveridge • Phillipa Candy • Pratibha Mistry • Richard Roberts • Ruth Shelley • Sam Sweet • Scott Benefield • Stacey Poultney • Steve Robinson • Stevie Davies • Tim Rawlinson • Tracy Nicholls • Tulin Bedri • Verity Pulford • Vicky Higginson • Wang Ziyan
About the Contemporary Glass Society:
Peter Layton, founder of London Glassblowing, started the Contemporary Glass Society and became its first chairman in 1997. Peter started the organisation together with Colin Reid and Tessa Clegg.
The Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) was established to represent the interests of national and international glassmakers. Its team is passionate about glass and the artists working with this amazing medium. Today it has almost 1,000 members and continues to grow.
CGS is a charitable organisation funded entirely through members’ subscriptions and by donations.
Our Stories
Inside the Mirage Exhibition: Artist Interviews and Insights
This blog features interviews with glass artists from the Mirage exhibition, a collaboration between London Glassblowing and the Contemporary Glass Society. Through conversations with participating artists, discover the techniques, inspirations, and stories behind contemporary glass art, exploring how each creator interprets the exhibition's "Mirage" theme.
The Art of Collecting
We spoke with three dedicated collectors about their passion for contemporary glass art—from first discoveries and unexpected community connections to how their appreciation has deepened over time. Their insights reveal what makes glass distinctive as an art form and how collectors balance acquiring works by established masters alongside emerging talents.
