Featured Artist: Victoria Garley
Fusion Art Glass is excited to feature artist Victoria Garley, renowned for her stunning handcrafted glass mosaics. Her intricate mosaic artworks blend color, texture, and light, creating collectible pieces that captivate art lovers and collectors alike. In this interview, Victoria shares her creative process, inspiration, and the artistry behind her unique glass mosaics, offering an inside look at the world of contemporary mosaic and artisan glass art.
We asked Victoria Garley a few questions to uncover the inspiration, techniques, and stories behind her breathtaking glass mosaics. From her creative process to her favorite materials and artistic influences, read on to discover the artistry that brings her handcrafted mosaic pieces to life.
1. How did you get started in glass? Who did you learn from?
"I took a six week evening class in a private studio called, The Burnt Pony, while my husband was stationed in Portland, Oregon. Glass was a medium that I had always admired and wanted to incorporate in my art. Fortunately, and to my surprise there were many sources in the Pacific Northwest area such as the Spectrum Glass factory, Bullseye Glass Co., and Uroboros Glass. There
were numerous art glass studios in Portland making it possible and a delight to meet experienced glass artists and learn about the tools, materials, and techniques, first-hand. Realize that this was long before the age of the PC and the everyday cell phone. We were using paper maps, pay-phones, the
yellow pages, and the public library to find who and what we needed. It was a great place at just the right time to steer my art carrier toward a new and expressive adventure with glass art."
2. If you could be anything else, what would it be?
"This is easy. I would follow the same path."
3. What is your least favorite glass technique?
"I started my glass journey learning about and working with the leaded glass and copper foil techniques. I also loved the process of kiln-fired stained glass because I was able to use my skills as a designer and a painter. As an added bonus, the clove and lavender oils used in this process were therapeutic. All of these techniques used lead (at the time) and other chemicals. I searched for other glass applications that I could accomplish and teach others, safely . I eventually found the glass mosaic techniques safer and more satisfying."
4. Who do you admire most?
"In the art glass world I would say Lewis Comfort Tiffany for his historical, versatile methods and the inspired beauty of his work. Chihuly , because of his unique, massive installations. Finally, I am grateful and truly admire Russ Gilbert. He gives artists the rare opportunity to show and sell their work
in the most fabulous venues by the most knowledgeable and personable sales associates in the business. He's an amazing glass artist with vision, ethics, and sensitivity."
5. What do you think makes glass art stand out from other art forms?
"I have always thought of glass as eye-candy. It is juicy, rich, and satisfying. It encompasses all of the elements of art and all of the principals of design in one breath or look. The optical densities and the complexity or even the simplicity of glass tell a visual story with light and reflection."
6. What is the most overrated quality in an artist?
"If you are asking how an artist is underestimated, I would say it would be how much time and energy goes into every aspect of achieving original, exciting art work. The process is life-long. I think of the art work as a metamorphosis. The ideas are caterpillars. The end results are the butterflies."
7. What motivated you to start your studio?
"As an artist, it was important for me to be independent. Drawing, designing, painting, working with clay, teaching fine art, and glass work helped me to strike a balance. Being artfully diverse gave me focus. Spending time with student artist, learning and achieving new skills was very gratifying."
8. What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
Knowing when it was time to retire from the business as a studio owner and operator. However, once I found that I had more quality time to spend with my husband, children, and grandchildren the challenge became the best decision."
9. Where do you get your creative energy from?
"I am most creative when I am happily doing lots of different things through out the day. There is a thread of imagination that runs in the background while I do other activities. So while training two active rescue puppies or establishing a beautiful organic garden at the edge of our forest, I am finding, “caterpillars”. Taking a day trip to the beach or building a chicken coop with my husband for a dozen Crested Polish peeps keeps me energized and looking forward to mastering a new art piece."
10. What’s next?
"We are building our own cabin in the middle or our woods to share with our family. Dogs barking, chickens clucking, and the silence of the garden growing are what I look forward to each day. Bee Keeping and furniture building are also on the horizon. Sounds all too ideal, I know. This is my new everyday reality!
I will continue to create new glass mosaic art pieces, paint, and work with clay. And who knows, I may take up chain saw carving with my new Stihl."
From inspiration to creation, Victoria’s mosaics tell a story—discover the full collection here.