Reflections: Peter Layton on Contemporary Glass at Collect 2025

We are delighted to return to Collect at Somerset House, where we'll be showcasing an extraordinary collection of contemporary glass art. This year's exhibition features an outstanding lineup of work by internationally acclaimed artists, including Tim Rawlinson's masterful optical works, Colin Reid's sculptural cast glass pieces, Louis Thompson's elegant and mesmerising blown forms, Dr Heike Brachlow's pioneering colour research and geometric sculptures, and Bruno Romanelli's captivating compositions.

In an exciting development, we've expanded our presence to encompass an entire room, allowing us to create an environment that truly celebrates these remarkable works. The expanded space gives each piece room to breathe and enables visitors to witness the interplay of light, colour, and form from multiple perspectives.

We can't wait to share this enhanced presentation with collectors and enthusiasts alike.

What is it about contemporary craft that is so important to you?

In a digital age, the qualities and humanity of handmade objects matters more than ever. The power, beauty and presence of handworked material, their tactility and potential for storytelling through process and practice, matter. In a time of vanishing hand skills, crafts activities provide crucial opportunities to experiment, play and perform - essential human and cultural needs.

London Glassblowing stand at Collect 2024

Which artist are you excited to bring to Collect 2025?

We are always excited about the extraordinary works by Anthony Scala. We remember famous glass artists gazing into Anthony’s work, and discovering, with awe, the patience and precision required to create them. Anthony visited London Glassblowing at the age of 8, with his mother, and returned to work with Peter Layton after graduating with a degree in Architectural Model Making. Anthony is now expanding his horizons on an MA at the Royal College of Art on a major scholarship.

Particle & Dark Matter by Anthony Scala will be exhibited at Collect

What are you most looking forward to at Collect, and why do you think it is important?

We very much look forward to exhibiting again at Collect and presenting a vibrant display of the very best of British Glass Art. Glass still languishes in the hierarchy of media - a bit of a Cinderella medium amongst Ceramics and Jewellery and it is our mission to transform the public perception of glass, by creating an awareness of its beauty, versatility and potential as a medium of artistic expression. We believe that Collect provides the ideal platform and audience to help us to achieve this.

Questions by Peter Layton, Founder of London Glassblowing

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