Laurel’s blown glass sculptures focus on the notion of keepsakes and the nature of preciousness.
Laurel Graduated from Monash University with her Bachelor of Applied Arts (honours) in 2002 and went on to study her Masters of Fine Arts graduating in 2011. Since then she has been in numerous exhibitions both nationally and internationally including SOFA Chicago represented by Kirra Galleries. She has won several grants and awards and her work resides in many private collections which include The Australian Parliament House.
“As an object maker I am fascinated by the way people form attachments to the things in their lives. I wish to investigate this and mainly my work has focussed around the concept of jewellery as it is personal, precious and sentimental. I wanted to look at jewellery in a different way – scaling up the objects so that the viewer could at once recognise the form but also ponder the nature of preciousness and perhaps the meaning of their own keepsakes.”
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2016
Microcosm – Kirra Galleries, Federation Square Melbourne – August
Kirra Illuminating Glass Award, Kirra Galleries, Federation Square, Melbourne, June
2015
Kirra Illuminating Glass Award, Kirra Galleries, Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia
Desire, Kirra Galleries, Melbourne, Australia
2014
Revere – Masters of Glass 2014, Sabbia Gallery, Sydney
Kirra Illuminating Glass Award, Kirra Galleries, Federation Square, Melbourne
2013
Precious Things, Solo Exhibition, Loop Project Space, Melbourne
Focus on Glass, Artman Gallery, Caulfield, Vic
2012
Treasures, Solo Exhibition, JamFactory Collector’s Space, Adelaide
Directors’ Choice, Kirra Galleries, Melbourne, Australia
2011
SOFA Chicago 2011, represented by Kirra Galleries, USA
Ranamok Glass Prize (touring exhibition), Glasshouse, Canberra
Encore, Glass Artists’ Gallery, Glebe, Sydney, NSW
Memories & Mementos, Kirra Galleries, Federation Square, Melbourne
2010
Ranamok Glass Prize (touring exhibition) Glasshouse, Canberra
2009
Laurel Kohut & Kirsten Finlayson, Veronica George Gallery, Armadale
2008
MM08, Kirra Galleries, Federation Square, Melbourne
2007
Home Remedies, Solo Exhibition, Jamfactory, Adelaide
2006
Australian Glass, Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, Museum of South Australia, Adelaide
Wish List. Craftsouth members exhibition, Pepper St Arts Centre, Adelaide
2005
Sprout, Adelaide Botanical Gardens, SA
25 Years Monash Glass, Monash University Faculty Gallery, Melbourne
Dame Nancy Buttfield Award, Ayers House, Adelaide
2004
Finale’, JamFactory graduate exhibition, Kintorlai, Adelaide
Ranamok Glass Prize, (touring exhibition) ANU, Canberra
Jamfactory Glass Studio Exhibition, Purple Space, Jamfactory, SA
2003
Jamfactory Biennial, JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design Centre, SA
Ausglass Conference, Student Exhibition, Fremantle WA
Forte, New Contemporaries Gallery, Queen Victoria Building, NSW
2002
Ranamok Glass Prize, (touring exhibition) Customs House, Sydney
Tricycle – Monash University Graduate Art Show (Honours), Monash University, Caulfield, Vic
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2015-2017
President, Ausglass – the Australian Association of Glass Artists
2010-Current
Hot Glass Assistant, Nick Wirdnam, VIC
Hot Glass Assistant, Maureen Williams, Vic
2014
Thomas Foundation, Artist in Residence, Canberra Glassworks
2012- 2013
Teaching Associate, Glass Workshop, Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture, Monash University, Caulfield, VIC
2005
Coldworking Assistant to Nick Mount, SA
2003 – 2004
Design Associate, JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design Centre, SA
COMMISSIONS
2013-2017
Monash University – Vice Chancellor’s Awards
2013-2015
Monash University – Dean’s Awards
2007
Hotel Manhattan, Hong Kong – Glass Installation
2004
ABAF Awards Night – Table Centrepiece Commission
EDUCATION
2009-2011
Master of Fine Arts, Monash University, Caulfield, Victoria
1999 – 2002
Bachelor of Applied Arts (Honours) Specialising in Hot Glass, Monash University, Caulfield, Vic
GRANTS / AWARDS
2006
Tom Malone Glass Prize – Shortlisted
SAYAB Grant Recipient – Project Assistance
2005
Dame Nancy Buttfield Award for Decorative Arts
COLLECTIONS
Australian Parliament House Art Collection