Collection: Taygan Appleton

I fell in love with art at a young age. My family moved every few years growing up including a three year stint in Germany. The artwork in Europe helped to spark my interest in sculpture and photography; it is also where I caught the travel bug.

After returning to Alberta Canada I decided to attend AUArts where I fell in love with glass. I became a glass major and made this medium my primary focus in my artistic practice. Struggling with major health issues during my time at AUArts I worked hard for seven years to finally finish. I graduated with a BFA in Glass with the Board of Governors award in May 2018.

I now pursue a career as a multi-media artist enjoying my life as a Glass Blower and photographer. I live in the small town of Cochrane Alberta and continue to travel the world looking for inspiration in the textures and colours that surround me.

Artist Statement

Taking inspiration from the landscapes I have travelled, I focus on textures both geological and organic. I explore these textures of the environment and abstractly translate them into glass. Glass as a material is extremely versatile and carries with it a mystery that allures the viewer as well as the maker.

Conceptually my work is centered on phenomenology. As a child I would run my fingers over precious objects exploring the textures and surfaces. Inquisitive by nature, I hoped that tracing these alluring objects would help to reveal their mysteries. As I pass my fingertips over the surface I linger in the ephemeral moment of a connection between myself and the object.

Glass is a seductive material that carries a pre-conceived fragility that creates an imaginary barrier. I explore this allure and boundary in my work. Being a tactile individual I strive to create objects that long to be touched. Within my practice I strive to break the notion of fragility and allow the individual to experience my work both visually as well as physically.