The 2023 Tom Malone Glass Art Prize: Adelaide artist Liam Fleming wins at Linton and Kay Galleries, West Perth

The Tom Malone Glass Art Prize has a new home and a new winner, with Adelaide glassblower, artist and designer Liam Fleming awarded The 2023 Tom Malone Glass Art Prize for his piece Transitory Form #8.

Exhibited at The Art Gallery of WA in previous years, Australia’s most significant award for contemporary glass art is being showcased in its 21st year in The Pickle District at Linton and Kay Galleries, West Perth.

Fleming was one of 23 of Australia’s finest glass artists to have been shortlisted for this year’s prize —featuring work created in 2023 — where the winning artist recives $20,000.

The shortlist of innovative and dynamic works were judged by Prize founder Elizabeth Malone, AGWA curator Robert Cook and New York-based Richard Whitely, who is the senior program manager and glassmaking institute lead instructor at New York’s Corning Museum of Glass.

Whitely and Cook said while there were several highlights and works of outstanding merit, representing the best of Australian glass in any context, the choice was unanimous for Liam Fleming’s Transitory Form #8.

“Fleming’s work just seemed so naturally ambitious and right in form and concept; it conveyed a fully-formed vision that provocatively retained a highly active, fluid spirit,” Whitely and Cook stated.

“While its (paradoxical) angular organicism could be located against the work of sculptors like Clement Meadmore or Barbara Hepworth, it doesn’t look back. Its true cultural reference points feel yet to be made. This expression of a forward-facing sensibility relies, of course, on incredible technical finesse.

“The drama of its making is somehow still occurring in front of our eyes as the compressed and barely balanced shapes and sections suggest they might yet morph into another alignment.

“Fleming brilliantly performs and sublimates his technical approach in the service of a vision that animates the essential enigma of life itself. A terrifically satisfying winner, accompanied by exceptional rivals all worthy of their own prizes.”

The 2023 Tom Malone Glass Art Prize is on display at Linton and Kay Galleries, West Perth until 28 April.

Fleming will give a winning artist talk at 2pm, March 22 at Linton and Kay Galleries, West Perth.