Overview
Brad Turner typifies the artistic concept of flow or “being in the zone”. It’s about focus and complete absorption in the process – full engagement of embodied knowledge and letting the material lead the way.
Turner is a maker with superb talent. He has an innate understanding of glass and exploits its characteristics to maximum effect. Turner’s hemispheroid wall pieces with their suffused palette, contrast beautifully with his robust and brightly hued vessels. His distinctive sense of colour – even more surprising as he is colour-blind – and strong sense of form are irrefutable.
Rather than fight against the clichés associated with glass: the optics, transparency and undeniable jewel-like colours, Turner expertly embraces and transmutes them into his own conceptual approach to glass.
Flow has a diverse range of interpretations. It may refer to the nature of hot glass, its fluidity and the practice of letting the glass “do what it wants.” While I try to emphasize the material’s unique qualities, “fluidity” is rarely apparent in the finalized work. My goal is to control the material, make it speak out in my voice and make it exist within my vision.
Brad Turner
About Brad Turner
Brad Turner grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and received his BFA from the Alberta College of Art and Design and his MFA from Alfred University, New York. Outside academics, he attributes much of his success to his time as an Artist-in-Residence at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, where he developed his characteristic skillset and unique creative philosophies. Through the years, Turner has participated in residencies in Europe, managed a glass co-op in Vancouver, had a baby girl, watched Frozen, dabbled in reality TV on the Netflix series Blown Away and received a few creative awards along the way.
Venue
A series of display cases located within the Craft & Design corridor
Indoors
Wheelchair Accessible
235 Queens Quay W
Toronto ON M5J 2G8