Glen Farrelly
Glen Farrelly aRCA trained at the renowned Camberwell College of Arts in London, studying for a fine arts degree in ceramics. When he graduated his work was immediately accepted into the South London Gallery which also exhibited the work of Gilbert and George, Damian Hirst and Tracy Emin. Glen then went on to study for a post graduate degree in secondary art education and then went on to teach art at City of London School. The school, nestled on the bank of the Thames between St Paul's Cathedral and Tate Modern, is where Glen would spend the next 19 years sharing his skills and honing his own ideas before taking the role as Head of Art. With Tate Modern on his doorstep Glen continued to immerse himself in the artwork of contemporary artists whilst running a forward thinking department. In 2016 he moved with his young family to LA, unfortunately, after only 2 months in his new home, the area was under threat by the Sand Fire. The fire was the biggest the City had seen for many years and the first he had ever seen! The fast moving fire came within 1/4 mile of his home causing his family to evacuate for three days. As soon as he was able, he began walking the fire ravaged sites and collected remnants of scorched and discarded wood. Inspired by what he experienced and his passion for environmental issues, Glen saw past the destruction and embraced the beauty that remained in each piece of wood and emphasizes the new life that emerges. HIs work was carefully sculpted to show the scars left by the fire and suggesting hope that new life that remains. Glen has now returned to the UK and has settled in beautiful North Wales. He makes and exhibits his work in Wales and across the uk whilst keeping close ties to California. He continues to work in wood and fire but this time the wood is from storm fallen trees or abandoned wooden waste. The technique he uses to preserve the wood is a technique called Yakisugi. In 2023 Glen was made an associate member of the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art. and in early 2024 Glen was interviewed by ITV Backstage program that featured his work and told his story so far. Glen has always been an ambassador for environmental issues and hopes his artwork helps to raise further awareness of the affects of climate change. All of Glen's work is 100% recycled and reclaimed. Glen is also an associate member of The Royal Cambrian Academy of Art.Enigma, 2024, Unwanted and discarded oak, 196cm tall, Yakisugi Technique. This piece is influenced by the many standing stones we find throughout the Uk, especially those that have carvings of cup and ring marks . There are many suggestions of what these marks might mean. To me the carvings or message from the past is a wonderful enigma.Happy to share this new piece on the festival of Beltane, I might end up dancing around this sculpture later!
Misplaced Message, 2024, Unwanted and discarded oak, 191cm tall, Yakisugi Technique. This piece is influenced by the many standing stones we find throughout the Uk, especially those that have carvings of ‘cup and ring marks’ . There are many suggestions of what these marks might mean. To me the carvings or messages from our ancestors may help us unravel our future, our present or even our past.
Sunrise , 2022, storm fallen tree limb, material tbc, Yakisugi technique and cold pressed linseed oil. Height, 104cmx29cm approximately
Sunrise, a perfect balance of new beginnings, balance, hope, magic and life.
I work with reclaimed and storm fallen timber using an ancient Japanese technique called Yakisugi. This method preserves the wood.Yaki means to heat with fire, and sugi is cypress. By slightly charring the surface of the wood without combusting the whole piece, the wood becomes waterproof through the carbonisation and is thus more durable. It also protects against insects, as well as making the wood fire retardant. All my work aims to be as sustainable as possible and I will only use natural materials.
Enigma, 2024, Unwanted and discarded oak, 196cm tall, Yakisugi Technique. This piece is influenced by the many standing stones we find throughout the Uk, especially those that have carvings of cup and ring marks . There are many suggestions of what these marks might mean. To me the carvings or message from the past is a wonderful enigma.Happy to share this new piece on the festival of Beltane, I might end up dancing around this sculpture later!
Misplaced Message, 2024, Unwanted and discarded oak, 191cm tall, Yakisugi Technique. This piece is influenced by the many standing stones we find throughout the Uk, especially those that have carvings of ‘cup and ring marks’ . There are many suggestions of what these marks might mean. To me the carvings or messages from our ancestors may help us unravel our future, our present or even our past.
Sunrise , 2022, storm fallen tree limb, material tbc, Yakisugi technique and cold pressed linseed oil. Height, 104cmx29cm approximately
Sunrise, a perfect balance of new beginnings, balance, hope, magic and life.
I work with reclaimed and storm fallen timber using an ancient Japanese technique called Yakisugi. This method preserves the wood.Yaki means to heat with fire, and sugi is cypress. By slightly charring the surface of the wood without combusting the whole piece, the wood becomes waterproof through the carbonisation and is thus more durable. It also protects against insects, as well as making the wood fire retardant. All my work aims to be as sustainable as possible and I will only use natural materials.
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