Erin Conron is an Australian glass artist whose practice explores perception, identity and the transformative possibilities of glass. For more than fifteen years, she has worked across kiln-formed and blown glass, creating wall-based works and vessels that challenge how we perceive space, depth and form. Originally from Canberra, she now works from her purpose-built studio in Verrierdale, on Kabi Kabi Country on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Central to Erin’s practice is the layering of fine, hand-applied enamel lines across multiple planes of glass. Built through successive kiln firings, these linear patterns interact with light and transparency to create optical effects that shift as viewers move around the work. Moiré-like patterns generate illusions of movement and internal space, suggesting dimensions and forms that do not physically exist. Her works invite slow, close observation, creating a visual tension between surface and volume, image and object.
Erin graduated from the Australian National University with Honours in Visual Arts, majoring in Glass, in 2008. Her career encompasses studio practice, establishing and managing a glass business, and working as a secondary visual arts educator. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, with work held in significant collections including the Australian National Art Glass Collection, the European Museum of Modern Glass in Germany, and the Kaplan-Ostergaard Glass Collection at the Palm Springs Art Museum in the United States.
Her work has been recognised through selection for numerous awards, including the Tom Malone Glass Prize, Ranamok Glass Prize, Hindmarsh Glass Prize and Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize. She won the Queanbeyan City Art Prize in 2018 and the 3D Excellence Award at the 2025 Local Contemporary Art Prize. Other career highlights include the 2024 Artisan Established Artist Residency with Canberra Glassworks and participation in the Artisan Osaka Cultural Exchange at the 2025 World Expo in Japan.
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CV
Born 1981, Canberra
Education
2007 - 2008 Honours, Visual Arts, Glass Major, Canberra School of Art, ANU
2004 - 2007 Bachelor Visual Arts, Glass Major, Canberra School of Art, ANU
Solo Exhibitions
2026 Manipulating Vision: The Glass Art of Erin Conron, Caloundra Regional Gallery
2021 Intersect, Studio Glass by Erin Conron, Beaver Galleries, Canberra
2018 Loop, Studio Glass by Erin Conron, Beaver Galleries, Canberra
2013 To and Fro, Studio Glass by Erin Conron, Beaver Galleries, Canberra
Selected Group Exhibitions
2026 Unleashed +, HOTA, Gold Coast
Local Contemporary Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery
Tom Malone Glass Prize, Linton and Kay Gallery, West Perth
2025 Artisan Cultural Exchange, Australia Pavillion, Osaka World Expo, Japan
Sunshine Coast National Art Prize
Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award
Lethbridge Small Scale Art Award
Local Contemporary Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery
Tom Malone Glass Prize, Linton and Kay Gallery, West Perth
2024 Contemporary Queensland Glass, Artisan Gallery, Brisbane
2022 40 Under 40, Butter Factory Art Centre, Sunshine Coast
2021 BAM Finalist Art Prize, Northern Rivers Community Gallery
2020 Gininderry Experience Featured Artist, Gininderry Display Village Canberra
2018 Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, South Australian Museum
2017 Hindmarsh Prize, Canberra Glassworks
Refraction, Beaver Galleries, Canberra
Revolve, Canberra School of Art
2015 Diplomacy: Translations in Glass, Canberra Glassworks
2014 City of Hobart Art Prize, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
The Tree, Canberra Glassworks
On Flame, Modern Glass & Ceramics, European Museum of Modern Glass, Coburg, Germany.
2013 Canberra Glass 2013, Beaver Galleries, Canberra
Sunshine Coast Art Prize 3D, Noosa Regional Gallery
Ensemble, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery
2012 The Ins and Outs of Space, M16 Artspace
2011 The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, S.A Museum, National Archives
Drink! Canberra Glassworks
Erin Conron and Linzie Ellis, M16 Artspace
Kaleidoscope, Sydney College of the Arts
2009 Limited Lines, Canberra Glassworks
Talente, International Young Design Exhibition, Munich, Germany
2008 Salute IV: Sabbia’s Stable, Sabbia Gallery, Sydney
Layer: Reflections on Place, Canberra Glassworks
Ranamok Glass Prize, national touring exhibition, Australia
Publications
2026 New Glass Review 46, The Corning Museum of Glass
2021 “Erin Conron's Intersect at Beaver Galleries is Elegant Glasswork”, The Canberra Times, 14 June
2018 “Craft review: Loop: Studio glass by Erin Conron at Beaver Galleries”, The Canberra Times, 13 March
2015 “Diplomacy, Glass in Review”, The Canberra Times, 27 March
2013 “Solo show a glass act”, The Canberra Times, 23 February
2010 New Glass Review 31, The Corning Museum of Glass
2009 Talente 2009, International Crafts Fair, Munich, Germany
Collections
Permanent display, European Museum of Modern Glass, Coburg, Germany
Australian National Art Glass Collection, Wagga Wagga Regional Gallery
Kaplan Ostergaard Glass Collection, Palm Springs Art Museum, CA, USA
Otto Waldrich family, private collection
Professional Positions, Awards and Activities
2026 Selected Artist, New Glass Review, Corning Museum of Glass, NY, USA
Recipient, Regional Arts Development Fund Grant, Arts Queensland
Finalist, Tom Malone Glass Art Prize, Linton and Kay Gallery West Perth
Finalist, Local Contemporary Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery
2025 Selected Artist, Artisan Osaka Cultural Exchange, Osaka World Expo, Japan
Finalist, Sunshine Coast National Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery
Finalist, Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award
Finalist, Lethbridge Small Scale Art Award, Lethbridge Gallery, Paddington
Finalist, Tom Malone Glass Art Prize, Linton and Kay Gallery West Perth
Winner 3D Excellence Award, Local Contemporary Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery
2024 Recipient of Artisan Established Artist Residency with Canberra Glassworks
2023 Featured Artist, Queensland Art Teachers Association Conference, Southbank Brisbane
2021 Finalist, Byron Arts Magazine Art Prize, Byron Bay
2018 Winner, Queanbeyan City Art Prize, The Q Arts Centre
Finalist, Waterhouse Art Prize, South Australian Museum
2017 Finalist, Hindmarsh Prize, Canberra Glassworks
2014 Finalist, City of Hobart Art Prize
2013 Finalist, Sunshine Coast Art Prize
2012 Winner, McGrath Emerging Artist Award, Capital Arts Patrons Organisation
Recipient of Thomas Foundation Residency at Canberra Glassworks
2011 Highly Commended, Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize
2010 Selected Artist, New Glass Review, Corning Museum of Glass, NY, USA
2009 Finalist, Talente, International Design Competition, Munich, Germany
2008 Finalist, Ranamok Glass Prize, national touring exhibition Australia
Winner, National Gallery of Australia Emerging Artist Award