Silvia Taylor

ARTIST STATEMENT

Silvia Taylor’s work is sculptural by nature but draws from design elements found in temple and cathedral architecture, as well as furniture design. In addition, artifacts have invariably remained an inspiration in her work. What specifically fascinates Silvia about relics is the sculptural quality that a functional object assumes after years without use - and as such, artifacts are often objects that have survived their very purpose for existing. This is an intriguing paradox to Silvia. And to further push this paradox, she hopes to encourage the viewer to ironically question the use of her sculpture. Using a combination of materials Silvia embraces the frosted glow of clear glass, the strong patina of copper, and the soft pastel palette of bronze and brass. The most distinct characteristic of her work is the form itself, what she calls an Ogee; an architectural term used to describe an “S” curved arch found in gothic windows or moorish arches among many other examples. In this form she has found countless variations which she has continued to explore over the past 10 years of creating this body of work.

BIO

Silvia Taylor has been working with glass since she was seventeen years old.

Since graduating from the Craft and Design program at Sheridan College in 2011 she has had many opportunities to continue her glass blown work. She fulfilled the role of teacher's assistant at Sheridan, later became a resident artist at Blown Away Glass Studio, and then moved to Toronto to start the Artist-In-Residence program at Harbourfront Centre in 2013. 

Silvia has been the grateful recipient of awards from the Glass Art Association of Canada, Craft Ontario, and Harbourfront Centre. She has participated in a number of shows and gallery exhibitions over the last twelve years including The Artist Project, One of a Kind Show, and the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. Silvia has also participated in many collaborations with other artists, taught numerous workshops, and has executed multiple large commissions. Her installation work can be found in the permanent collections in the Daniel’s Corp Condominium on Toronto’s waterfront. 

Additionally, Silvia sat on the board of the Glass Art Association of Canada as secretary for over three years and received a Craft Development grant from the Ontario Arts Council. In 2016, she had the opportunity to speak publicly about her work and career at the Royal Ontario Museum for the opening of the Dale Chihuly Exhibition. Since completing her residency at Harbourfront Centre in 2017, Silvia has continued to evolve her work and exhibit in private and public galleries such as the Art Gallery of Burlington. In 2017, Silvia received the mid-career award from Craft Ontario which granted her the opportunity to travel within Canada to work with glass artists such as Blaise Campbell, Sue Rankin, Julia Reimer, and Tyler Rock. 

In the more recent years Silvia developed a line of glassware in addition to her sculptural work and has been invited to jury both exhibitions and grant submissions such as the Craft Development grant from Ontario Arts Council and the Elora Sculpture Project. In 2021, Silvia received the Jean Chamlers grant from the Canada Council of the Arts to pursue research on sustainability in glass blowing practices. Within the last year, she has also worked on special projects for BOCCI Lighting and Architecture studio and Jeff Goodman Studio. Currently Silvia is creating her own work in her small studio while actively doing research on sustainability by connecting with artists, manufacturers, and engineers from all over the world.