Jarred Wright
Jarred Wright is a glass artist whose handblown sculptures mimic the organic forms that arise in the imperceptible microcosm of nature. Working with glass as both fluid and solid, he creates small-scale, amoebic works that blur the line between creation and evolution, liquid and crystal, movement and stillness.
Image supplied by the artist
Originally from Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa, Jarred now lives in Meanjin Brisbane. Alongside his art practice, he works as a scientific glassblower in the chemistry, nanotechnology and microbiology industries, a role that brings him face to face with the natural forms revealed under the microscope.
His path to glass began with a lifelong curiosity about how things are made. “I’d always been interested in making nice things with a genuine fascination for the objects that surround us. Since childhood, I’ve had a habit of pulling things apart and trying to understand how they were made and why.”
Brown Snake, glass and bottletop- image supplied by the artist
At around 19, that curiosity found its direction. “I was living in a van with some mates, drifting between beaches and surfing my way around New Zealand. Those nine months of freedom gave me plenty of time to think about what I wanted to do with my life.” Somewhere between the surf and the open road, he decided to pursue making seriously, enrolling in a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a strong hands-on, workshop focus. “That decision set me on a path I’ve been following ever since.”
Every one of Jarred’s works is shaped by hand, and by mouth, while molten hot, using the old tradition of bench torch glassblowing. Through subtle pushing and pulling, he coaxes the glass into forms that resemble microscopic organisms, capturing the animated movement of molten glass as it cools and is frozen in time.
Alongside the scientific world, Jarred maintains a deep affinity with the unique flora, fauna and artistic styling of his homeland, Aotearoa, which continues to inform his work.
Jarred was Highly Commended in the 2026 Tattersalls Landscape Prize for his work ‘Brown Snake’. He has exhibited widely across Australia and Aotearoa, including the Tom Malone Art Prize (2020 and 2024), Precious at the Museum of Brisbane, Queensland Contemporary Glass at Artisan, New Glass and the Uncanny Valley, Focus on Glass 2022, In Shape and The Glassery.
He has also shared his skills through workshops and demonstrations, from bauble-blowing sessions with The Edge and the State Library of Queensland to artist talks at Artisan and Workspace Studios in Christchurch.
Jarred sees the future of craft as hard to predict, but believes a thriving design culture rests on two foundations. “Education fosters appreciation, appreciation creates value, and value attracts funding. However, education itself requires investment, thus creating a cycle in which each element relies on the other.”
He is concerned that neither currently receives the attention it needs, and that without sustained commitment “we risk losing valuable skills, material knowledge and opportunities for future generations of makers.”
Yet he also sees reason for optimism. Jarred has noticed a renewed interest in the handmade, driven by a growing rejection of AI-generated content, mass production and the ubiquity of 3D printing. “This shift suggests a desire for objects that possess a tangible human presence, an appreciation for the craft/skill and the individuality that comes from being made by hand.”
“Interesting times to be in the craft game.”