Edols and Elliott have a career that now spans a very successful twenty years. Having spent the last seven years exploring sculptural elements of their work, and after recent months in the planning and development stage, these artists are excited to be able to present an innovative and new body of work in Shelter. The exhibition will be simple and elegant, with only a limited number of works available.

The new artworks consist of forms that are contained and wrapped or shrouded in a layer of external glass. This outer ‘skin’ then hints of what lies below or within. The shroud is deeply carved, in a way that moves forward from their precision cutting that has in the past mimicked nature, something that Edols and Elliott have explored in depth and are renowned for. This new process of carving leads to a more dynamic and expressive cut that wraps around the piece and enhances the form.

This new series of works builds on the combined extraordinary strengths of Edols and Elliott with glass blowing and carving respectively. These artworks combine 3 glass vessels - the bowl, the lid or skin and the internal form. These three parts are all equally important and provide shelter and support to each other. The bowl form features a smooth polished rim that magnifies through to the interior of the base, and the interior form sometimes mirrors the shape of the exterior. The outer vessel allows light to play within its deeply cut surface and marry all the forms together.

This is a very important and personal body of work for Edols and Elliott. The protective layer which forms part of this series is like a shelter from the outside world, where the delicate or precious within is protected and made safe from the elements. The empty space between the interior and exterior is a cosy confine of infused light, a void that the viewer gets to explore and one that is integral to the work. This new series explores emotions such as nurturing, warmth and protection, perhaps an insight into what is central within the lives of these wonderful Australian artists.

One of the longest and most successful partnerships in contemporary studio glass is Ben Edols & Kathy Elliott. This highly anticipated exhibition Shelter presents a new body of work which draws on their impressive skills with glass. This exhibition will once again demonstrate why this talented and acclaimed duo are two of the foremost artists internationally in this diverse and very beautiful medium.