David Reade

David makes his own glass using an English recipe. The colours are imported from Germany in the shape of rods. He uses free-blowing and casting techniques for the creation of unique sculptures and functional art glass. He applies colour during the final stage of the production process using various techniques such as fusing, where two coloured rods are separately heated and than joined together. Working with architects and art galleries around the world, David’s designs are clean and classical and have a simplicity of colour and form. His glass sculptures are inspired by the mountainous environment he lives in, the seas around the Cape coast, and the deserts of Namibia.

1960
Born in Newport, Wales.
1977
Commenced working with glass under tuition of Michael Harris on the Isle of Wight. He learnt about aspects of design and methods of creating glass objects. He spent the next seven years mainly working for Harris but also for various smaller glass studios and with other glass artists in England and Europe to gain more experience.
1984
Visited South Africa on holiday and decided to make the Cape his home. He worked with Shirley Cloete for three months in her studio at Morgenster, Somerset West. In July 1984 David opened a studio in Cape Town with local glassblower Gary Thompson.
1986
Built a studio in Worcester, South Africa in partnership with Dutch artist, Kea Verweij.
1987
David returned to Europe and spent most of the year working in Scandinavia where he had the opportunity of learning from Sweden’s top glassblowers and artists like Kristin Munter and Wilke Adolfson.
1988
Returned to South Africa and re-opened the Worcester studio.
1992
Bought and restored an old barn in Worcester where his studio is now situated.

Collections

South African Cultural History Museum, Cape Town.
Durban Art Museum.
Pretoria Art Museum
Pietersburg Art Gallery.
Gilbey’s Collection, South Africa.
Broadfield House Glass Museum, Stourbridge, England.
Consol Glass Collection, South Africa.

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