Cheryl Edwards
Cheryl Edwards started her art practice as a potter working with and studying clay in Melbourne Australia. A spark of inspiration lead her to develop an interest in glass so she completed a Bachelor of Applied Arts from Monash University in 2003. Cheryl marinated for 18 years and only started making glass again in 2021. Since then, she has developed and refined her glass techniques and explored the connections between form and decoration.
Each piece demonstrates a clear evolution from one to the next. Her fluid open vessels juxtapose meticulous building of patterns with soft natural forms.
Cheryl is in the permanent collection of the International Biennale of Glass Bulgaria and was the 2023 recipient of the Friends of Pilchuck First Time Student Award. She is in private collections and was a finalist in the 2023 Tom Malone Prize.
Atlantis #2, 2025. Murrini Glass, 160 H x 170 W x 170mm D. Photographed by Fred Kroh.
Atlantis #3, 2025, Murrini Glass, 220 H x 195 W x 195mm D. Photographed by Fred Kroh.
With my Murrine vessels, I capture the tactile beauty of the warp and weft in textiles with the precision of glass. Inspired by the patterns and textures found in domestic textiles, I’m drawn to how fabric can connect us to memory, identity, and place. These patterns aren’t just decoration to me, they speak of care, resistance, everyday labour, and heritage. There’s something poetic about turning a soft material like cloth into glass, something that holds light, keeps form, and endures.
When I layer tiny Murrine pieces into a vessel, it feels like weaving or stitching. Each one adds to a larger tapestry, rich with rhythm and memory. For me, pattern is a way of holding meaning, it offers comfort, continuity, and beauty. Through my work, I want to honour the quiet power of textiles and the people, mostly women, who’ve made and used them across generations. By giving fabric a new life in glass, I hope to celebrate its strength, softness, and the stories it contains.
Atlantis #2, detail.
Atlantis #1, 2025. Murrini Glass, 220 H x 110 W x 110mm D. Photographed by Fred Kroh.
