Bethany’s evocative imagery on her detailed kiln formed glass panels and sculptures embrace the concepts of memory and space.
She obtained a Master of Fine Art degree from Monash University in 2003 and has been exhibiting her work both nationally & internationally for 15 years. She has several years of experience as a Studio Technician & Lecturer & has taught and assisted in many kiln forming and casting workshops. Her work ranges from studio glass to found object assemblage sculpture, jewellery, design, awards and trophies.
In 2013 she established 1000 Degrees Glass Studios, a communal kiln forming & cold working studio in Melbourne. In 2017 she travelled to the remote community of Balgo to work with the renowned Warlayriti Artists on The Desert, River, Sea project for an exhibition at The Art Gallery of Western Australia in 2018. Her success is recognised both nationally & internationally via her extensive exhibitions, corporate & public commissions. Bethany’s work can be found in private & public collections including the National Glass Art Collection of Australia.
“My work embraces concepts of memory, place and what lies at the end of our perceptions through material paradoxes. I am particularly drawn to working with glass because we live in vitreous environments; it’s a material that surrounds us in almost every part of life. Glass allows light to fill space, letting objects casually materialise and dematerialise simultaneously whilst describing interior and exterior space. It is charged with fascinating material paradoxes, fragility, solidity, liquid, solid, transparent, translucent, opaque – it is a hybrid that illustrates notions of the human condition and ways of seeing.”
EDUCATION
2001-2003
Master of Fine Art – by Research – Glass, Faculty of Art & Design, Monash University
2000
Bachelor of Art – Ceramic Design – Glass – 1st class Honours, Faculty of Art & Design, Monash University
1997-1999
Bachelor of Art – Ceramic Design\Glass, Faculty of Art & Design, Monash University
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2018
Glass, Classics & Archaeology Gallery, Ian Potter Museum of Art, Melbourne University, Vic
2017
Linden Post Card Show, Linden New Art Gallery, Domain House, South Yarra, Vic
Glaas Inc, Melbourne Polytechnic Gallery, Prahran, Vic
Guild, Gather Gallery 1000 Degrees Glass Studios, Cheltenham, Vic
2016
Linden Post Card Show, Linden New Art Gallery, St Kilda, Vic
Incinerator Art Award: Art for Social Change– Finalist, Incinerator Art Gallery, Moonee Ponds, Vic
Aesthetics In a Time of Emergency, Craft ACT, Act
KIGA – Kirra Illuminating Glass Award finalist, The Light in Winter @ Kirra Galleries, Federation Square, Vic
Noosa Art Prize – Finalist, Noosa Regional Gallery, Qld
2015
A Sinister Beauty, Strange Neighbour, Fitzroy, Vic
Contemporary Glass: Refracting a History, Incinerator Art Gallery, Moonee Ponds, Vic
KIGA – Kirra Illuminating Glass Award finalist, The Light in Winter @ Kirra Galleries, Federation Square, Vic
Desire – Sculpture & Wearable Art, Kirra Galleries, Federation Square, Vic
The Tom Malone Prize – Shortlisted finalist, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Wa
Solo – Imprint, Place & Memory, The Gallery @ Bayside Art & Cultural Centre, Brighton, Vic
2014
Artists Emerge at the WTC, MARS Gallery, World Trade Centre, Vic
184 Molds Later, The Gallery, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, Usa
KIGA – Kirra Illuminating Glass Award finalist, The Light in Winter @ Kirra Galleries, Federation Square, Vic
2013
Glass Showcase, Kirra Galleries @ Albert Street Gallery, Vic
Three Vitreous Bodies, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Nsw
Decoration & Design: “The Black Object”, Clement Meadmore Gallery, The Academy of Design, Vic
Ensemble, Ausglass Members Exhibition, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Nsw
2012
Director’s Choice, Kirra Gallery, Vic
Ranamok Glass Prize – Finalist, Touring Nationally
2011
SOFA Chicago, represented by Kirra Gallery, Usa
Art Melbourne, represented by Glass Plus Gallery, Vic
Media Specific, Faculty Gallery, Monash University, Vic
The Tom Malone Prize – Finalist, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Wa
Gaffer Studio Glass, Hong Kong
Tell us your stories, Object Galleries, Sydney, Nsw
Kaleidoscope, Ausglass Members Exhibition, Peripheral Vision Conference, Sydney College of the Arts, NSW
2010
MM10 The Monash Momentum Continues, Kirra Gallery, Federation Square, Melbourne, Vic
Miscellany, Frankston Arts Centre, Frankston, Vic
2009
Encore Encore, Vienna, Austria
MM09, Kirra Gallery, Federation Square, Vic
Design :Made: Trade, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, Vic
Art Melbourne represented by Glass Plus Gallery, Melbourne, Vic
Encore, Glass Artists Gallery, Glebe, NSW
2008
SOFA Chicago, represented by Kirra Gallery, USA
Entanglement, Manningham Gallery, Vic
Ranamok Glass Prize – Finalist, Touring Nationally
Glass Now Weekend, National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, USA
Some Like it Hot, Glass Plus Gallery, South Melbourne, Vic
Art Melbourne represented by Kirra Galleries, Melbourne, Vic
Bethany Wheeler, Kirra Gallery, Federation Square, Melbourne, Vic
2007
Ranamok Glass Prize – Finalist, Touring Nationally
Generation M, Kirra Gallery, Federation Square, Melbourne, Vic
2006
Glass Plus Five, Glass Plus Gallery, South Melbourne, Vic
Ranamok Glass Prize – Finalist, Touring Nationally
Synthesis: Fusing + Kiln Forming, Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, Pittsburgh, USA
Worn, Sabbia Gallery, Sydney, Nsw
Fire, Australian Wildlife Gallery, Bairnsdale, Vic
2005
Artworks Gallery, Southport, Qld
Element, 1000C, Avalon, Nsw
Monash Glass 25 Years, Faculty Gallery, Monash University, Vic
Journey Through the Flame, Kirra Gallery, Southbank, Vic
Southern Lights, Light Square Gallery, Adelaide, Sa
Summer Heat, Object, Sydney, Nsw
Coastline, 1000C, Avalon, Nsw
2004
Nine Glass Steps, Steps Gallery, Carlton, Vic
To be or not to be….jewelled, Fusions Gallery, Fortitude Valley, Qld
Eye 4 Design: the new frontier of Australian Industry, Daley Gallery, Kew, Vic
Harvest II, New Talents in Glass and Ceramics, Quadrivium, Sydney, Nsw
Artworks Gallery, Southport, Qld
2003
Palette Contemporary Art & Craft, Albuquerque, NM, USA
The Annexe, Quadrivium, Sydney, Nsw
An Investigation into the Dialogue between Natural and Constructed Environments, Master of Fine Art Exhibition,
Greenhouse Gallery, Monash University, Vic
City of Hobart Art Prize – Finalist, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, Tas
Forte, New Contemporaries Gallery, Sydney, Nsw
2002
The Shin Kong Mitsukoshi International Glass Art Festival, Taiwan
In3door / Out3door, Mira Fine Art Gallery, Melbourne, Vic
Clearing, Craft Victoria, Melbourne, Vic
Texture, Glass Artists Gallery, Glebe, Nsw
2001
Ausglass Glass Walk, A.R.T. Gallery Eden, Melbourne, Vic
2000
Spark Combined Honours Exhibition, The Faculty Gallery, Monash University, Vic
Insert, Graduating Exhibition, Monash University, Vic
Emerging Artist Program, Bulle Galleries, Melbourne, Vic
1999
@ninety9, Graduating Exhibition, Monash University, Vic
Tina Wencher Prize, Association of Sculptors of Victoria, Telstra Centre, Melbourne, Vic
Awards, Grants & Residencies
2017
Gunyah Artist in Residence, Port Stephens, NSW
2016
Australian Artists’ Grant recipient, NAVA – National Association of Visual Artists – for Aesthetics In a Time of Emergency
Finalist, Incinerator Art Award: Art for Social Change, Incinerator Art Gallery, Moonee Ponds, Vic
Finalist, KIGA – Kirra Illuminating Glass Award, Kirra Galleries & The Light in Winter @ Federation Square, Vic
Finalist, Noosa Art Prize, Noosa Regional Gallery, Qld
2015
Australian Artists’ Grant recipient, NAVA – National Association of Visual Artists – for Imprint, Place & Memory
Finalist, The Tom Malone Prize, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Wa
2014
The Lino Tagliapietra Scholarship to attend Silvia Levenson : Paradoxes in Glass workshop, Pilchuck Glass School, Usa
Finalist, KIGA – Kirra Illuminating Glass Award, Kirra Galleries & The Light in Winter @ Federation Square, Vic
2012
Finalist, Ranamok Glass Prize, Touring Nationally
2011
Finalist, The Tom Malone Prize, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Wa
2008
Finalist, Ranamok Glass Prize, Touring Nationally
2007
Finalist, Ranamok Glass Prize, Touring Nationally
2006
Finalist, Ranamok Glass Prize, Touring Nationally
2003
Finalist, City of Hobart Art Prize, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Tas
2002
Ian Potter Foundation Cultural Grant recipient
1999
Glass Studio Award for Outstanding 3rd Year In Glass, Monash University, Vic
1999
Yarra Valley Grammar School Acquisitive Prize
1998
Finalist, Thomas Foundation Pilchuck Scholarship Competition, representing Monash University
Publications
Experiments in Light – the work of George Aslanis, catalogue essay, National Art Glass Gallery, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery,
20171000 Degrees Glass Studios: Workshops of the World, Garland Magazine, Issue 6, 2017
Aesthetics in a Time of Emergency, Simon Gregg, Garland Magazine, Issue 3, 2016
Aesthetics in a Time of Emergency, Catalogue Essay by Simon Gregg, Curator of Gippsland Art Gallery, Vic, 2016
Aesthetics in a Time of Emergency: Craft as political commentary, Kerry-Anne Cousins, The Canberra Times, June 6, 2016
100 Stories, Centenary 1914-2014, p., 97, Bounce Books, 2014
Australian Signatures: The National Art Glass Collection, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, 2013
Objetos Con Vidrio, January, 2011 http://www.objetosconvidrio.com/blog/bethany-wheeler
Beautifully Bespoke, Vogue UK, October, 2010
SOFA Chicago, Craft Arts International, p., 72, #75, 2009
Ranamok Glass Prize 2008, Dan Klein, Craft Arts International, p., 98, # 75, 2009
Ranamok Glass Prize 2007, Dr Norris Ioannou, Craft Arts International, p., 102. #72, 2008
25 Years Monash Glass, Stephan Crafti, The Age Newspaper, May 16, 2005
A Touch of Glass, Herald Sun Newspaper, September 25, 2004
2002 Shin Kong Mitsukoshi International Glass Arts Festival, Dr. Jerry King, Craft Arts International, p., 88-90, # 56, 2002-03
Balgo Glass, Kristin McFarlane, Craft Culture, Craft Victoria, Vol.3, No.245, Summer, 3/2003
Balgo Glass, This Side Up, p., 14, 4/2002
The Next Generation, young designers get noisy, shine a light, Monument Architecture & Design, #44, p., 44, October/November, 2001
Empty Vessels Make the Most Meaningful Sound, Robert Nelson, Today Review, The Age Newspaper, January 31, 2001
Collections
National Art Glass Collection, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery Collection, NSW
Yarra Valley Grammar School Collection, Vic
Various private collections in Australia, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, France, USA, Nigeria,
Saudi Arabia, New Zealand & Japan
Professional Experience
Current, Director of 1000 Degrees Studios, Cheltenham, Vic
2018
Judge of National Student Art Glass Prize, National Art Glass Collection, Wagga Wagga Regional Gallery, Nsw
2017
Workshop Instructor, Waryliti Artists, working with indigenous artists to create glass panels for Desert, Sea, River project at Art Gallery of
Western Australia in 2018, Balgo Hills, WaInstructor Fusing & Slumping course Incinerator Gallery, Moonee Ponds, Vic
Creator of glass components for artist Jasmine Targett
Creator of glass components for artist Lienor Torres
Curator Guild, Gather Gallery, 1000 Degrees Glass Studio, Cheltenham, Vic
2014
Silvia Levenson : Paradoxes in Glass workshop, Pilchuck Glass School, Usa
Established 1000 Degrees Studios | artists spaces | kiln forming | grinding & polishing, Cheltenham, Vic
2010-2012
Studio Technician, Glass & Ceramic Studios, Department of Art & Design, Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture, Monash University, Vic
2012
Spin Casting Workshop with Richard Morrell, Morrell Art Glass, Castlemaine, Vic
2011
Co-curator Media Specific, Faculty Gallery, Monash University, Vic
Creator of glass components for Bless:Bless Windowgarden No.38, Craft Victoria, Vic
2009-2011
Creator of glass components for artist Daniel Armstrong
2010
Co-curator Tyro, Glass Plus Gallery, South Melbourne, Vic
Mentor to Gabrielle Ashton, Royal Society of New Zealand Science, Maths, and Technology Awarded Teacher Fellow
Associate Member, EOS Cluster, Department of Fine Art, Faculty of Art & Design, Monash University, Vic
2002
Current, Various private & corporate commissions including::
Bathurst 1000 Trophies, Governor of Victoria Export Awards, Yellow Pages Business Ideas Grants, State of Design Festival – The Melbourne Prize, Toyota Australia & The Victorian Government, Victorian Racing Commission, World Education Program International, Pacific Asia Newspaper Publishing Association Newspaper of the Year Awards, Pacific Asia Newspaper Publishing Association Newspaper Marketing Awards, Savewater! Awards, Monash University Networking Groups, Monash University Distinguished Alumni Awards, Monash University Marketing Awards, Monash University MBA Leadership Forums, Monash University Viewpoint Debating Awards, Monash University Research Awards, The Mayflower Group, The Victorian Government Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards.
2008 – 2012
Sessional Lecturer, Glass Studio, Department of Fine Art, Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture, Monash University, Vic
2008-2012
Ausglass Co-Victorian State Rep
2004 – 2017
Gallery Assistant & Exhibition Technician Kirra Galleries, Federation Square, Vic
2002 – 2003
Sessional Lecturer, Glass Studio, Department of Fine Art, Faculty of Art & Design, Monash University, Vic
2002
Workshop assistant, Waryliti Artists, working with indigenous artists to create glass coolamons and panels, Balgo Hills, Wa
Established 1000 Degrees glass forming studio, Melbourne, Vic
2001 – 2008
Research Associate, Glass Studio, Department of Fine Art, Faculty of Art & Design, Monash University, Vic
2001 – 2012
Kiln Forming Short Course Instructor, Glass Studio, Department of Fine Art, Faculty of Art & Design, Monash University, Vic
2001 – 2017
Instructor of various glass fusing, slumping & casting short courses including Crystal Stubbs Glass Studio,
The Stained Glass Shed, AEV, The Salvation Army Crisis Services – Young Women’s’ Project,
The Diocesan School for Girls New Zealand, Incinerator Art Gallery
2001
Selected to represent Monash University to speak at the Ausglass Student Seminar / Forum at the 12th Biennial Ausglass Conference, Melbourne
1998
Finalist in the Thomas Foundation Pilchuck Scholarship Competition, representing Monash University
