Jenny McLeod

Auckland based glass artist Jenny McLeod creates a variety of work including functional glassware, sculpture, outdoor installation and exhibition pieces. She produces her work from her home studio based in Waitakere.

McLeod’s training in glass began with her diploma of Craft and Design at Carrington Polytechnic- which she achieved with a Distinction in Glass. Following this she was awarded the QEII Arts Council New Artist grant (1993) which enabled her to set up her first kiln studio. She has been making and exhibiting ever since.

The majority of McLeod’s works incorporate fused glass and metal work. This process involves sheet glass being cut and layered in a kiln and taken to high temperatures to melt together. The molten glass sheets sink into designs hand drawn into sand during the firing, to take on the desired pattern. Metals are fused in between layers and most pieces undergo multiple firings.

McLeod also incorporates a range of mixed media into her pieces, including materials like concrete, pumice, copper, shells and NZ native fibre, harakeke (flax). As the artist describes “I enjoy working with all these materials, and am inspired by their natural quality and unlimited possibilities”. This mixed media approach is beautifully shown in her Wall Necklace series, where large pieces of glass, copper, wood and metal are threaded on over-sized ‘chains’ to create beautiful pacific inspired wall jewellery. These pieces come to reference Pacific approaches to costume and ornamentation.

Jenny McLeod is a member of NZSAG. She exhibits throughout New Zealand in galleries and outdoor sculpture events. Her works are held in private collections throughout Australasia, the UK and USA.

"NZ is not only a country of natural beauty, but it is a country rich in cultural diversity. These are constant reference points in my work, which is created with a Pacific inspiration, for a modern setting." - Jenny McLeod