Photo credit: Sylvain Deleu
Photo credit: Sylvain Deleu
Artist and Designer, Kira Phoenix K’inan, brings together fine art and craft through works on paper, inimitable glass sculptures, ephemeral installations and multi-exposure photography, which are sustainably and ethically produced in her studio in London. Today her collections are known for their rich colour palette, dynamic lines that intertwist into one another and works that are in constant visual flux.
My love of art and creating began at an early age. I grew up in a vibrant community of artists on Lamma Island and would spend my weekends exploring the island where I developed a close connection to nature. Living on Lamma Island also allowed me to fully explore my own imagination, which came across in the stories I would tell and creative works I would create. This love of story telling has developed through into the artwork I make now, with each artwork series/project acting like a stories narrative with a beginning, middle and end.
In 2012 I took a once in a life time trip where I travelled on my own to Hong Kong, Bali, Singapore and Thailand. During this time I created a series of watercolour works on paper that explored colour washes and the strength of the line. Upon returning to the UK I applied to the Ceramics and Glass course at The Royal College of Art. During the masters course I developed a technique of translating my two-dimensional works on paper into three-dimensional glass sculptures known as the Relief Glass Drawing technique. This labour intensive, hands on process allowed me to experiment with surface textures by carving into plaster batts and combining different glass colours for a vivid outcome that responds to the natural light by creating shadows that dance on the walls or shift their tone depending on the type of light they sit in.
This exploration of drawing has also been an outlet for me to be able to express myself over the years, when at times my dyslexia made it hard to communicate in the way I wanted to. Since 2020 I have been devaluing into colour, how we see colour and how colour in glass can create emotion in the viewer in a similar way that music evokes emotion.
Photo credit: Sylvain Deleu
Photo credit: Sylvain Deleu
My collections have grown organically through my studies and two residencies, one at Konstfack, Stockholm, Sweden and the other at Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland.
I design from my shared studio in Wimbledon, London. I sell globally to a dedicated clientele spanning the UK, Scandinavia and USA. Each artwork now sits in loving homes or in commercial settings.
I continue to exhibit globally with particular highlights being Bullseye glass competition Emerge Bullseye 2018, shortlisted for the Ashurst Emerging Artists Prize in 2019 and a finalist for The Visual Arts Open 2020.
If you have any questions or queries, please contact me, as I always love to hear from you.
VALUES
As an artist and glass maker I am very aware of my materials usage and carbon foot print. I believe in being environmentally accountable through waste reduction and energy conservation. These ideas also come through into my artwork, especially the glass Constructure Series that examines the effects pollution and over fishing has on coral reefs. I like to work with companies who share my values. I purchase my glass from Glass Studio Supplies, who are a family run business based in Battlesbridge, Essex. They supply me with Bullseye Glass. Bullseye Glass, based in Portland, Oregon, USA, are determined to lessen their impact on the environment as well as providing a high quality of life for their employees. I buy my merchandising materials and packaging from from several companies, including Paperchase, Ikea and Moo.com. All these companies are working hard to ensure they supply items that are either easily recyclable or are made from recycled materials. I also recommend that any packaging that comes with the artwork is kept incase the artwork needs to be transported at another date.
