Glass | Cone

Cone represents a direct translation of my stacked construction technique into glass at a monumental scale. Rising to over 3.1 metres in height, the sculpture draws the eye upward along its tapering form toward a precise vertex, creating a strong vertical presence within the landscape.

The body of the sculpture is constructed from over 250 individually shaped layers of glass, each one formed and stacked by hand. Although the glass itself is translucent, the density of the layers, and the way light interacts with the cut surfaces, result in a rich, luminous green finish. As the light moves around the sculpture throughout the day, the surface shifts in character; at times absorbing light, at others appearing to glow from within.

The form is capped with a bronze conical finial, modelled in plaster before being cast using the lost-wax process. This bronze vertex provides both a visual and material counterpoint to the glass below, resolving the sculpture at its apex and reinforcing the sense of precision and intent within the overall geometry. 

The work is presented on a bespoke stainless steel plinth, designed specifically for the sculpture and its setting, allowing it to sit confidently within the landscape while maintaining a clean and contemporary footing.

While the form is simple, the execution is exacting. I am drawn to clear, legible geometries, but it is the attention to surface and detail that gives the work its depth. In glass, the stacked construction creates a fabric-like texture that rewards close inspection, softening what might otherwise feel austere and introducing a subtle tactility to the surface.

Cone was created as a commissioned piece, demonstrating that even my most fragile and complex works can be realised at significant scale through careful planning and making. Since completing this sculpture, I have produced further works in stacked glass using the same principles, available in a variety of sizes and configurations. The form can also be realised in other materials, including slate, with each version carrying a different physical and emotional weight, while remaining faithful to the same underlying idea.