Jill Allan lives in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. In 1999 she graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design, (Calgary, Alberta) earning a B/F.A. with a major in Glass. Since graduating she has worked as a studio assistant to other artists (Starfish Glassworks Victoria, Mel Munsen Victoria, New-Small and Sterling Studio Glass Vancouver) while pursuing her own work.

Her work is quiet, based in the craft tradition of vessel making, but not exclusively functional. She is influenced by Scandinavian designs, particularly those of Finland’s iittala. Simple forms, pattern and surface texture are characteristic features of the art that Jill makes. Her work exploits the optical trickery of glass, and often must be handled to be understood visually. Making the most of the versatile properties of glass, Jill’s work is both, translucent-delicate-matte and glossy-solid-thick. Experimentation with bead making and silver fabrication has led to the introduction of a new line of glass and sterling silver jewellery designs.

Jill has received a number of awards for her work including the Millennium Award from the Canadian Craft Museum 2000, the Gold Medal for Excellence in Craft from the Circle Craft Christmas Market 2005, and the B.C. Creative Achievement Award 2007. In March 2006 she was artist in residence at ‘The Studio’ of the Corning Museum of Glass, Corning New York. Jill’s work is included in the collections of the Canadian Craft Museum and ‘The Studio’ at the Corning Museum of Glass.

Artist Statement
Much of my glasswork is not ground on the bottom to sit flat and stationary. It rolls around and rocks back and forth, and while this work is not overtly conceptual I believe that this subtle but significant characteristic abstracts the form and certainly the function. Almost all of my glasswork undergoes surface treatment. I think glass is most beautiful when translucent. I use equipment such as a diamond carving lathe, a sand blaster and a belt sander to achieve this obscured transparency. Most of the vessels that I make have a cut and polished lip, I enjoy this sharpness of form and the cross-section of the wall that it affords the viewer. I hope that both their surface texture which is surprisingly smooth and soft, and their rocking activity entice the viewer to interact with my art works. Repetition of form and colour are other key elements of my work. Shapes and colours found in nature and in the urban setting, rings on the water made by rain, the shadow of the fire escape across the street, a stand of bare tree trunks, architecture, an unfolding flower, inspire me.

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Curriculum Vitae
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