Spike Deane, Artist.
I am a Canberra (Australia) based visual artist who works primarily in cast glass, though I like to mix it up now and then with textiles, animation and other materials. My artistic practice is focused on the underlying narratives found in folk and fairy tales to consider questions of becoming, transformation and 'the hopeful journey'. I work in my home studio and at the Canberra Glassworks.
I was born in Germany to British parents, who after returning to England for a while, immigrated to Australia. Memories of Germany are pretty hazy, what I do remember though, are the many forest walks we went on as a family. Before studying a Bachelor of Visual Arts at the University of Sydney I helped my parents build a house on the edge of Olney State Forest, I definitely feel that the woodlands and forests of Europe and Australia are infused into my art work... and of course forests are a powerful symbol in folk and fairytales.
I graduated with Honours from Sydney College of the Arts (Glass) in 2012 and was a finalist in both ‘Hatched’ the National Graduate Art Prize and the National Student Art Glass Prize with pieces combining animation and glass. I exhibit throughout Australia, notably since graduation at the emerging artist space at Stills Gallery, Paddington, in the City of Sydney's 'Art & About' festival and as a finalist at the inaugural ‘Kirra Illuminated Light Awards’.
