Libby Gray's Name is Perhaps Not Well Known

A recent acquisition of a piece signed L.G. '81 N.Z. is a reminder that some NZ glass artists are not well recognised, and their work is thus readily available to those who know what they atre looking for.

Quite a number of glass artists worked with Tony Kuepfer in Inglewood, as assistants, students and colleagues, while others continued at the studio after he left to teach at Whanganui.

Libby Gray came to spend a week or so at the studio in 1978, then moved to Inglewood in 1979 or 80, and worked full time there for several years. I have pieces in my collection dated between 1981 and 1984. She moved to Wellington to work for the Crafts Council in 1985 or 86, and later moved to Whanganui, as an administrator at Unicol.

I have slowly been adding pieces of Libby's work to my collection as opportunity allows, but the best pieces I have seen are in her own collection, which she kindly showed me a few years ago.