photo credit:Ursula Boehmer (SSW)
Karen Akester
Edinburgh, Scotland.
e:karenakester@yahoo.co.uk
Gallery representation
Coates & Scarry www.coatesandscarry.com
Caa Contemporary Applied Arts www.caa.org.uk
Education
.Mdes Master of Glass Design, Edinburgh College of Art 2001-2002.
.BA(hons) Glass Design Edinburgh College of Art 1990-1993.
Professional experience
Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop teaching weekend workshops/hothouse sessions in kiln formed glass 2010-2011
Edinburgh College of Art Glass department, session tutor teaching kiln formed glass 2009-2010
Retro Glass Alloa, visiting artist teaching weekend workshops in cast glass and pate de verre 2009
Edinburgh College of Art Glass dpt.ment (Artist in residence) workshops teaching kilnformed glass 2004-2009
Powderhall Bronze, private glass casting commissions for Powderhall Bronze casting foundry, Edinburgh 2007
Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, teaching evening class in kiln formed glass 2005-2007
Langham Glass Cambridge, assistant glassmaker in commercial glass factory open to the public, 1995-1996.
Artist Residencies
. Emerging Artist in Residence Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Lumsden Aberdeenshire, Scotland 2012.
. Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Lumsden Aberdeenshire, Scotland 2011.
. Artist in residence Edinburgh College of Art Glass department, Scotland UK 2004-2009.
. Gulbenkian Kiln forming residency North Lands Creative Glass, Lybster Caithness, Scotland UK 2006.
. CGCA Fellowship Summer Resident Artist, Wheaton Arts Creative Glass Center of America, Millville NJ USA
2003.
Public Collections
. Dan Klein & Alan J.Poole (Private Collection)@The National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh UK.
. North Lands Creative Glass Centre, Lybster Caithness, Scotland UK.
. CGCA Creative Glass Center of America, Millville NJ, USA.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2013 'Focus Artist'- CAA Contemporary Applied Arts London.
2013 Makers Auction - CAA Contemporary Applied Arts London.
2013 SSA Annual at the National Galleries, the Mound Edinburgh.
2012 AAF-Affordable Art Fair Hampstead, London-represented by the View Gallery Bristol.
2012 Unnatural Natural History RWA-Royal West of England Academy Bristol, curated by Coates & Scarry.
2012 AAF-Affordable Art Fair Melbourne, Australia-represented by Coates and Scarry.
2011 Winter Exhibition Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Lumsden Aberdeenshire Scotland.
2011 Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft show PMA In association with Craft Scotland, Philadelphia USA.
2011 Figurative Expressions Contemporary Glass Society online-selected exhibition.
2011 A Passion for Glass NMS-National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Dan Klein & Alan J Poole.
2011 Modern Fabulists View Art Gallery Bristol, curated by Coates & Scarry.
2011 VAS Visual Arts Scotland The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
2010 SOFA Chicago Festival Hall Navy Pier, Chicago USA, represented by Bullseye Gallery.
2010 Remarkable Glass Contemporary Applied Arts, London in association with Contemporary Glass Society.
2010 Collect Saatchi Gallery London, represented by Bullseye Gallery USA.
2010 Migrate'09 30 years Scottish Glass Broadfield House Glass Museum Stourbridge, curated by
Dan Klein & the Scottish Glass Society.
2009 Migrate'09 30 years Scottish Glass Inverness Museum ,Iona Gallery Kingussie, St.Fergus Gallery Wick.
2009 Modern & Contemporary Glass Auction Bonhams New Bond Street London curated by Dan Klein.
2008 Gifted National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.
2008 Northern Lights Gordon Brown Gallery in assoc. North Lands Creative Glass & Dan Klein.
2008 British Glass Bienalle International Festival of Glass, Stourbridge.
2008 Glass Now Liberty Museum, Philadelphia USA.
2008 TGK Glasmess, Vorsicht glas? TGK Glass fair Germany
2008 VAS Visual Art Scotland The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh UK.
2007 Side by Side Bovey Tracey Devon Guild of Craftsmen/CGS Contemporary Glass Society
2006 Magical Christmas Bilston Craft Gallery, Wolverhampton.
2006 Glass Now Liberty Museum, Philadelphia USA.
2006 British Glass Biennale International Festival of Glass, Stourbridge.
2005 Glass Sellers Prize Glasshouse Gallery, Leathermarket London.
2004 British Glass Inspiration *selected works from British Glass Bienalle;Burgdorf, Switzerland.
2004 British Glass Biennale International festival of Glass Stourbridge.
Awards/Nominations
. Ramsay Cornish Prize for 'Casca Whispers' presented by SSA at RSA open Edinburgh 2013.
. Creative Scotland QPA funding towards dpmnt of new works in glass and metal for Philadelphia Art Fair 2011.
. Members Fund Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop funding towards dpmnt of new work in glass & metal 2011.
. Craft Makers Award Edinburgh funding towards development of new work in metal at SSW, Lumsden 2011.
. Professional Development Award, Scottish Arts Council 2009/2003.
. Hope Scott Trust funding towards research development in printmaking 2008.
. EVAAC Edinburgh Visual Arts and Crafts Award Scheme, funding towards development of new work 2007.
. Scottish Arts Council funding to attend the North Lands Creative Glass conference 2007.
. Bullseye Glass materials funding during the Gulbenkian Kiln forming residency at North Lands Glass 2006.
. Scottish Arts Council & National Lottery funding, the Gulbenkian residency North Lands Creative Glass 2006.
. Nominated (by Ray Flavell) for the Arts Foundation Prize-Glass category 2006.
. Shortlisted for the Glass Sellers Prize 2005.
Commissions
2010 Beltane-Beacon for Public Engagement Royal Society of Edinburgh & Edinburgh;
design and produce glass awards.
2010 Hall of Fame Award Scottish National Rugby; design and produce glass prototype.
2008 Principals Medals Edinburgh University: design and produce glass awards.
2007 Centenary Awards Edinburgh College of Art: replicate in glass a series of awards for
HRH The Prince of Wales, Harry Benson Photo-journalist & Stewart Parvin, Fashion designer to the
Queen.
2007 Powderhall Bronze private glass casting commissions.
2006 GAP Gorbals Community Art Project Re-produce artists designs in glass for public sculpture in Glasgow.
Publications
2012 Craft Arts International no:84 Passion for Glass Dan Klein & Alan J.Poole@NMS exhib.review
by Jennifer Hawkins Opie
2010 Craft Arts International no:80 Remarkable Glass exhibition review;Collect 2010 review.
2010 CGS Contemporay Glass Society newsletter, Remarkable Glass exhibition review at CAA by
Jennifer Hawkins Opie;Collect review.
2010 Craft Arts International no:77 Migrate Scottish Glass exhibition review.
2009 Neues Glass fall 2009 (3/09), selected entry Jutta Cuny-Franz award.
2009 Contemporary Kiln Formed Glass A world survey by Keith Cummings (hb).
2009 Modern and Contemporary Glass - Bonhams Auction catalogue.
2008 The Chosen Ones French glass website 'Poleinfo-idverre.net'
2008 British Glass Biennale catalogue (hb) also 2006 & 2004.
2006 Neues Glass winter 2006 (04/06), British Glass Biennale article.
Articles;blogs; links
2012 Layout Magazine 'Unnatural Natural History' exhibition review inc.'Pinnochio Syndrome kids'
http://layoutmagazine.net/2012/08/05/art-review-unnatural-natural-history/
2009 Northings, Tina Rose reviews Migrate http://northings.com/2009/06/01/scottish-glass-society/
2011 http://www.artsmarttalk.com/3/post/2011/11/high-art-from-the-highlands-scottish-artists-at-the- pma-craft-show.html
2010 Blethering crafts online interview (Oct 2010) http://www.bletheringcrafts.co.uk
2003 http://www.wheatonarts.org/creativeglasscenteramerica/criticresidency/robinrice/akesterkaren
interview with Robin Rice.
Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop teaching weekend workshops/hothouse sessions in kiln formed glass 2010-2011
Edinburgh College of Art Glass department, session tutor teaching kiln formed glass 2009-2010
Retro Glass Alloa, visiting artist teaching weekend workshops in cast glass and pate de verre 2009
Edinburgh College of Art Glass dpt.ment (Artist in residence) workshops teaching kilnformed glass 2004-2009
Powderhall Bronze, private glass casting commissions for Powderhall Bronze casting foundry, Edinburgh 2007
Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, teaching evening class in kiln formed glass 2005-2007
Langham Glass Cambridge, assistant glassmaker in commercial glass factory open to the public, 1995-1996.
Artist Residencies
. Emerging Artist in Residence Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Lumsden Aberdeenshire, Scotland 2012.
. Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Lumsden Aberdeenshire, Scotland 2011.
. Artist in residence Edinburgh College of Art Glass department, Scotland UK 2004-2009.
. Gulbenkian Kiln forming residency North Lands Creative Glass, Lybster Caithness, Scotland UK 2006.
. CGCA Fellowship Summer Resident Artist, Wheaton Arts Creative Glass Center of America, Millville NJ USA
2003.
Public Collections
. Dan Klein & Alan J.Poole (Private Collection)@The National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh UK.
. North Lands Creative Glass Centre, Lybster Caithness, Scotland UK.
. CGCA Creative Glass Center of America, Millville NJ, USA.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2013 'Focus Artist'- CAA Contemporary Applied Arts London.
2013 Makers Auction - CAA Contemporary Applied Arts London.
2013 SSA Annual at the National Galleries, the Mound Edinburgh.
2012 AAF-Affordable Art Fair Hampstead, London-represented by the View Gallery Bristol.
2012 Unnatural Natural History RWA-Royal West of England Academy Bristol, curated by Coates & Scarry.
2012 AAF-Affordable Art Fair Melbourne, Australia-represented by Coates and Scarry.
2011 Winter Exhibition Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Lumsden Aberdeenshire Scotland.
2011 Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft show PMA In association with Craft Scotland, Philadelphia USA.
2011 Figurative Expressions Contemporary Glass Society online-selected exhibition.
2011 A Passion for Glass NMS-National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Dan Klein & Alan J Poole.
2011 Modern Fabulists View Art Gallery Bristol, curated by Coates & Scarry.
2011 VAS Visual Arts Scotland The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
2010 SOFA Chicago Festival Hall Navy Pier, Chicago USA, represented by Bullseye Gallery.
2010 Remarkable Glass Contemporary Applied Arts, London in association with Contemporary Glass Society.
2010 Collect Saatchi Gallery London, represented by Bullseye Gallery USA.
2010 Migrate'09 30 years Scottish Glass Broadfield House Glass Museum Stourbridge, curated by
Dan Klein & the Scottish Glass Society.
2009 Migrate'09 30 years Scottish Glass Inverness Museum ,Iona Gallery Kingussie, St.Fergus Gallery Wick.
2009 Modern & Contemporary Glass Auction Bonhams New Bond Street London curated by Dan Klein.
2008 Gifted National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.
2008 Northern Lights Gordon Brown Gallery in assoc. North Lands Creative Glass & Dan Klein.
2008 British Glass Bienalle International Festival of Glass, Stourbridge.
2008 Glass Now Liberty Museum, Philadelphia USA.
2008 TGK Glasmess, Vorsicht glas? TGK Glass fair Germany
2008 VAS Visual Art Scotland The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh UK.
2007 Side by Side Bovey Tracey Devon Guild of Craftsmen/CGS Contemporary Glass Society
2006 Magical Christmas Bilston Craft Gallery, Wolverhampton.
2006 Glass Now Liberty Museum, Philadelphia USA.
2006 British Glass Biennale International Festival of Glass, Stourbridge.
2005 Glass Sellers Prize Glasshouse Gallery, Leathermarket London.
2004 British Glass Inspiration *selected works from British Glass Bienalle;Burgdorf, Switzerland.
2004 British Glass Biennale International festival of Glass Stourbridge.
Awards/Nominations
. Ramsay Cornish Prize for 'Casca Whispers' presented by SSA at RSA open Edinburgh 2013.
. Creative Scotland QPA funding towards dpmnt of new works in glass and metal for Philadelphia Art Fair 2011.
. Members Fund Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop funding towards dpmnt of new work in glass & metal 2011.
. Craft Makers Award Edinburgh funding towards development of new work in metal at SSW, Lumsden 2011.
. Professional Development Award, Scottish Arts Council 2009/2003.
. Hope Scott Trust funding towards research development in printmaking 2008.
. EVAAC Edinburgh Visual Arts and Crafts Award Scheme, funding towards development of new work 2007.
. Scottish Arts Council funding to attend the North Lands Creative Glass conference 2007.
. Bullseye Glass materials funding during the Gulbenkian Kiln forming residency at North Lands Glass 2006.
. Scottish Arts Council & National Lottery funding, the Gulbenkian residency North Lands Creative Glass 2006.
. Nominated (by Ray Flavell) for the Arts Foundation Prize-Glass category 2006.
. Shortlisted for the Glass Sellers Prize 2005.
Commissions
2010 Beltane-Beacon for Public Engagement Royal Society of Edinburgh & Edinburgh;
design and produce glass awards.
2010 Hall of Fame Award Scottish National Rugby; design and produce glass prototype.
2008 Principals Medals Edinburgh University: design and produce glass awards.
2007 Centenary Awards Edinburgh College of Art: replicate in glass a series of awards for
HRH The Prince of Wales, Harry Benson Photo-journalist & Stewart Parvin, Fashion designer to the
Queen.
2007 Powderhall Bronze private glass casting commissions.
2006 GAP Gorbals Community Art Project Re-produce artists designs in glass for public sculpture in Glasgow.
Publications
2012 Craft Arts International no:84 Passion for Glass Dan Klein & Alan J.Poole@NMS exhib.review
by Jennifer Hawkins Opie
2010 Craft Arts International no:80 Remarkable Glass exhibition review;Collect 2010 review.
2010 CGS Contemporay Glass Society newsletter, Remarkable Glass exhibition review at CAA by
Jennifer Hawkins Opie;Collect review.
2010 Craft Arts International no:77 Migrate Scottish Glass exhibition review.
2009 Neues Glass fall 2009 (3/09), selected entry Jutta Cuny-Franz award.
2009 Contemporary Kiln Formed Glass A world survey by Keith Cummings (hb).
2009 Modern and Contemporary Glass - Bonhams Auction catalogue.
2008 The Chosen Ones French glass website 'Poleinfo-idverre.net'
2008 British Glass Biennale catalogue (hb) also 2006 & 2004.
2006 Neues Glass winter 2006 (04/06), British Glass Biennale article.
Articles;blogs; links
2012 Layout Magazine 'Unnatural Natural History' exhibition review inc.'Pinnochio Syndrome kids'
http://layoutmagazine.net/2012/08/05/art-review-unnatural-natural-history/
2009 Northings, Tina Rose reviews Migrate http://northings.com/2009/06/01/scottish-glass-society/
2011 http://www.artsmarttalk.com/3/post/2011/11/high-art-from-the-highlands-scottish-artists-at-the- pma-craft-show.html
2010 Blethering crafts online interview (Oct 2010) http://www.bletheringcrafts.co.uk
2003 http://www.wheatonarts.org/creativeglasscenteramerica/criticresidency/robinrice/akesterkaren
interview with Robin Rice.
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