The delicate medium of glass is used by Kings Langley artist Ewa Wawrzyniak in her new collection of fragile sculptures at Artistsmeet.

Through a series of between ten to 12 pieces, she explores the theme of home as a private, protective place in which we are safe to dream.

“It all started with a book by Gaston Bachelard called Poetics of Space,” explains the Poland-born glass blower who moved to the UK when she was in her 20s. “Most of my sand-cast sculptures are inspired by his poetic vision of the house.”

Ewa, who works from her studio at Parndon Mill, in Essex, used sand casting and fusing techniques to create the pieces for this exhibition.

Sand casting involves pouring liquid glass, which is heated to 1,260 degrees centigrade, into a mould made out of damp casting sand dusted with glass powders. This method requires Ewa to move quickly, as it is a fast, free-flowing process.

Her fused pieces begin life as two layers of glass with materials such as glass powder, copper wire and foil sandwiched between them. The layers are then fired in an electric kiln at 840C.

“My sand cast glass work is sculptural, but my fused work is more architectural, decorative and functional,” says Ewa, who studied glass blowing in London, Surrey and Dublin, where she gained her Master of Arts qualification at the National College of Art and Design.

“Working with glass is rather unpredictable, when I open my kiln there is always a surprise waiting.”

Her fascination with the fragile substance began as a child, but her imagination was later fired watching master glass blowers at work in Venice.

She began her creative career working with ceramics, but later developed her interest in glass and has gone on to win several awards for her work.

A member of Bucks Open Studios, Ewa teaches glass and ceramics at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield and runs courses at her studio as well.

To accompany her upcoming exhibition in Rickmansworth – her first at the Artistsmeet venue – she will participate in an artist’s Q&A at the launch evening on Tuesday, July 7 from 6.30pm. In the past Ewa has exhibited her work across the country and has commissioned pieces in collections worldwide.