Stephen Bradbourne is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading glass artists, with more than three decades of experience working with the medium. Based in Tāmaki Makaurau, his practice is grounded in the demanding traditions of Italian glassmaking, particularly the intricate techniques of murrine, mosaic and twisted cane.

Bradbourne’s fascination with glass began in the early 1990s after studying ceramics and working as a production glassblower. A formative workshop in Melbourne introduced him to the rich history and complexity of traditional Italian decorative glass, setting the direction for a practice that has continued to evolve ever since.

His work brings together technical mastery and a strong visual language drawn from the natural environment. Patterns, cellular structures, leaves, woven forms and organic rhythms are translated into glass through painstakingly assembled canes and murrine, creating works where colour and pattern extend through the entire form rather than simply sitting upon its surface.

There is a remarkable tension within Bradbourne’s work: intricate and highly controlled in its making, yet organic and spontaneous in its visual effect. His glass reveals layers of colour, pattern and depth as the light moves across and through each piece, inviting close looking and rewarding the viewer with ever-changing detail.

Bradbourne has exhibited extensively throughout Aotearoa and internationally, with his work held in public and private collections both in New Zealand and overseas. His contribution to contemporary glass has been recognised through numerous awards, including the Cavalier Bremworth Luminous: NZ Art of Glass Award and the Molly Morpeth Canaday 3-D Award.

Through an enduring commitment to craft, experimentation and the possibilities of molten glass, Bradbourne continues to push traditional glassblowing techniques into a distinctly contemporary and personal practice.