Blanche Tilden
Blanche Tilden creates forms that explore value, mechanical movement, and industrial and architectural uses of glass, translating something of the macro immensity of the built and material world to the intimacy of the jewellery object.
Her fascination with mechanical devices, fuelled by a desire to understand how things work, continually inspires her work and Blanche has developed a unique approach to her materials, in particular glass, which she explores both as a material for jewellery making and a universal metaphor.
Tilden is fascinated by modern forms of motion and the beauty of the industrial processes that express it; she looks to machinery, bicycles and architectural forms like windows, to every kind of linking structure. It follows that her kinetic language of jewellery is phrased in the modern materials of glass and metal; in her hands borosilicate glass, and stainless steel and titanium, are coaxed into articulated jewellery that is light, hardy and comfortable to wear." And indeed, Blanche's work is cherished by private collectors for its comfort; its considered balance, movement and weight. A Blanche Tilden necklace becomes an integral part of its owner's life.
Julie Ewington
In Blanche Tilden's work we see with clarity how glass is entwined with systems of production, both artisinal and industrial, giving form to ideas that have shaped the world around us. For a contemporary designer/craftsperson material culture is an evolving practice. In the future's past, Tilden's work will shed light on who we were.
Simon LeAmon
Blanche Tilden
Blanche Tilden is a Naarm/Melbourne based artist who graduated from the Canberra School of Art with a Bachelor of Art (Visual) specialising in Glass, followed by a Graduate Diploma of Art in Gold and Silversmithing. She went on train with renowned designer Su san Cohn as part of the Australia Council Traineeship program from 1996-97 and is has recently completed her PhD at Australian National University, Canberra.
Tilden's work has been included in major exhibitions internationally, inluding Unexpected Pleasures at NGV and London Design Museum, the Rigg Award (2006) and Melbourne Now (2013) both at NGV and SOFA Chicago. Her work is held in many pretigious collections including the Corning Museum of Glass, New York, the Museé des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, Toledo Art Museum, Ohio and Australian state and regional public galleries.
In addition to her solo practice, Tilden has undertaken major commissions and collaborative projects, among them several projects with Australian designer Mary Featherstone and indigenous artist Maree Clarke.
A major retrospective exhibition Ripple Effect: a 25 year survey, curated by Jason Smith, Director of Geelong Gallery, toured Australia in 2021-23. This first comprehensive survey of Tilden’s career includes historical and contemporary works loaned from numerous public and private collections. To mark this career event, Tilden produced a range of new limited edition works, reinterpreting previous jewellery pieces to create new forms that expanded on her preoccupations with value, mechanical movement, and industrial and architectural uses of glass, translating something of the macro immensity of the built and material world to the intimacy of the jewellery object.
View works
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'Median' bracelet
Regular price $220.00 AUDRegular priceSale price $220.00 AUD -
'Miniature' ring
Regular price $130.00 AUDRegular priceSale price $130.00 AUD -
'Capillary' earrings
Regular price $230.00 AUDRegular priceSale price $230.00 AUD -
'Miniature - kintsugi' ring
Regular price $200.00 AUDRegular priceSale price $200.00 AUD -
Blanche Tilden: Ripple Effect: A 25 year survey
Regular price $30.00 AUDRegular priceSale price $30.00 AUD -
'Conveyor' bracelet
Regular price $750.00 AUDRegular priceSale price $750.00 AUD -
'Sweet' earrings
Regular price $120.00 AUDRegular priceSale price $120.00 AUD
Featured exhibitions
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Third Story
October 22, 2022 - October 05, 2022Peter Bauhuis / David Bielander / Julie Blyfield / Helen Britton / Aphra Cheesman / David Clarke / Simon Cottrell / Jess Dare / Veronika Fabian / Emma Fielden /...
Third Story
October 22, 2022 - October 05, 2022Peter Bauhuis / David Bielander / Julie Blyfield / Helen Britton / Aphra Cheesman / David Clarke / Simon Cottrell / Jess Dare / Veronika Fabian / Emma Fielden /...
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Funaki / The National: STOCKROOM
April 10, 2018 - May 05, 2018Gallery Funaki (Melbourne) and The National (Christchurch) present STOCKROOM, a collaborative project held across both galleries through April and May. Each gallery presents a selection of favourite works from their...
Funaki / The National: STOCKROOM
April 10, 2018 - May 05, 2018Gallery Funaki (Melbourne) and The National (Christchurch) present STOCKROOM, a collaborative project held across both galleries through April and May. Each gallery presents a selection of favourite works from their...
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Clear Cut
Blanche Tilden makes beauty. In her hands, glass and metal are transformed into limpid jewellery that spills and flows and falls down and round the body, circling it with light....
Clear Cut
Blanche Tilden makes beauty. In her hands, glass and metal are transformed into limpid jewellery that spills and flows and falls down and round the body, circling it with light....
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2016 Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery
August 24, 2016 - September 24, 2016Switzerland’s David Bielander is the winner of the Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery and Melbourne’s Sarah Johnston is the winner of the Emerging Award. High commendations were awarded to...
2016 Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery
August 24, 2016 - September 24, 2016Switzerland’s David Bielander is the winner of the Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery and Melbourne’s Sarah Johnston is the winner of the Emerging Award. High commendations were awarded to...
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2014 Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery
We're thrilled to announce the inaugural Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery. Mari was a unique and passionate advocate for contemporary jewellery in Australia, both through her own remarkable practice...
2014 Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery
We're thrilled to announce the inaugural Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery. Mari was a unique and passionate advocate for contemporary jewellery in Australia, both through her own remarkable practice...
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New Edition
'New Edition' is a curated exhibition; an exploration of the 'multiple' or editioned piece in contemporary jewellery. Works created as multiples are often overlooked in favour of the one-off, handcrafted...
New Edition
'New Edition' is a curated exhibition; an exploration of the 'multiple' or editioned piece in contemporary jewellery. Works created as multiples are often overlooked in favour of the one-off, handcrafted...
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Wearable Cities
Modernism’s dreams of the future may have become the stuff of our past, but through her jewellery, Blanche Tilden recognises in its most utopian moments an idea which still has...
Wearable Cities
Modernism’s dreams of the future may have become the stuff of our past, but through her jewellery, Blanche Tilden recognises in its most utopian moments an idea which still has...