Photo by PJ Agbay
About
Gemma began working with glass at the tyler school of art and architecture, where she graduated in December 2021 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in glass. since then, she has traveled throughout the country in pursuit of further technical glass education at institutions such as the corning museum of glass and pilchuck glass school. Gemma works full-time as a production glassblower and co-owner of Antolini Glass Co., a philadelphia-based glass studio.
Artist Statement
My glass work is an endless practice of creating fantastical objects, sculptures, and installations that center around themes of imagination and control, manifesting as both literal and abstract sculpture. Working with glass, for me, is an exercise in the belief that my own actions directly affect change. I work to further understand the material so that I can control its outcomes by working with direction and intention.
The act of creating glass, as in many crafts, is a protest against an unresolved and rapidly evolving technological world. glass historically has proven the power to educate, inspire, and call to action those who observe it. In my practice, I manipulate traditional associations with both blown and stained glass — its narrative structure and divine light — by addressing contemporary issues that I want viewers to reflect upon.
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Blown Away: Extreme Heat, Contestant 2024
Corning Museum of Glass Partial Workshop Scholarship 2024
Pilchuck Glass School Summer Staff Scholarship 2023
Saxe Emerging Artist Nomination 2023
Windgate Lamar Fellowship 2022
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts Partner Scholarship 2022
Tulsa Glassblowing School Summer Scholarship 2021
Corning Museum of Glass Workshop Scholarship 2021
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“Blown Away Season 4” Group Exhibition, Corning Museum of Glass 2024
Solo Gallery Exhibition: Heaven is Full of Junk 2022
Solo Thesis Exhibition: Heaven is Full of Junk 2021
Juried Virtual Exhibition: Evolution - A Showcase of Emerging, International Talent 2021
Juried Group Show: Small Favors, The Clay Studio 2020
Juried Group Show: Common Threads, Baltimore Jewelry Center 2019
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Co-Owner, Antolini Glass Co. 2022-
Teaching Assistant to Martin Janecky, Corning Museum of Glass 2023, 2024
Artist in Residence, Monterey GlassWorks 2024
Teaching Assistant to Jason Mcdonald, Pilchuck Glass School 2023
Teaching Assistant to Bill Gudenrath, Corning Museum of Glass 2023
Teaching Assistant to Jason Mcdonald, Corning Museum of Glass 2022
Teaching Assistant to Judith Schaechter, Pilchuck Glass School 2022
Teaching Assistant to Aya Oki, Pittsburgh Glass Center 2022
Glassblowing Assistant, John Pomp Studios 2022
Diploma Project Fabricator, Tyler School of Art and Architecture 2021-2022
Studio Assistant to Leo Tecosky, 2022
Teaching Assistant for Madeline Riles Smith, Tyler Glass Program 2022
Studio Assistant to Jason Mcdonald 2022
Studio Assistant to Amber Cowan 2022
Diploma Project Fabricator, Tyler School of Art and Architecture 2021-2022
Teaching Assistant for Judith Schaechter, Tyler Glass Program 2021
Glassblower and Design Intern, Monterey Glassworks 2021
Student Liaison, Glass Arts Society 2020-2021
Tyler Glass Collaborative President 2020-2022