Tom Rowney is recognised as one of Australia’s leading glass blowers, with more than thirty years dedicated to refining and extending traditional Venetian techniques. His practice centres on precision, physicality and the creation of beautifully crafted objects, informed by his work at the Canberra Glassworks. Based in regional NSW, Rowney is Technical Director at Canberra Glassworks and is highly sought after for teaching and fabrication projects in Australia and overseas. His work is held in major public collections including the National Gallery of Australia, the National Glass Collection at Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, the Powerhouse Museum, the Australian Catholic University Collection and the Tacoma Museum of Glass (USA).
‘For more than three decades, I have been inspired by the rich traditions of Venetian glassmaking. My work draws on the history of the craft, blending classical techniques with contemporary influences to explore the inherent qualities of glass—its transparency, opacity and the dynamic interplay of bold colour. Each piece invites close engagement, revealing the nuances of pattern and form.
The Tesserae series is my interpretation of traditional murrini techniques. Like the small glass components used in mosaic, each tessera is laid out flat in a large mosaic image before being rolled and blown into its final form. The series allows me to explore colour and pattern in ways that highlight the brilliance of blown glass.
Expanding on this idea, Sciolto—meaning free, loose or unbound—breaks away from regular pattern structures. These works embrace a more fluid, spontaneous approach, creating decorative objects that offer the viewer a sense of movement and wonder’.
Tom Rowney, 2026
