A life that embraced the 'yet to be - the undiscovered'

It is a rare privilege to meet someone who has truly found their vocation - whose creative spirit and joy de vivre is so purely, so perfectly, articulated in their art.

A hundred lives in one -

An exceptional talent, an extraordinary lady

An English eccentric with a profound love of colour, textures, nature, travel, culture, people, penguins, parties and all the experiences that life offers; Amanda harnessed inspiration from all she encountered. The smallest, most intricate details of the world she experienced were translated into fluid, organic glass forms – spontaneous and full of vitality.

She embraced the here and now – shared and spread joy with the broadest smile, an infectious laugh and a generous, kind heart. In her commissioned pieces she had an innate ability to listen, engage, understand and interpret other people’s ideas – turning them into something real, something tangible, something ‘fabulous’.
Amanda believed in the simple truth of the work she created, joy with the broadest of the making process, embraced and lived life to its fullest, She absorbed everything around her and gave back in equal measure.

Just before she passed away she spoke about the influences that mattered most:

“My father was such an important part of my life; he was a person who believed in what you could do for someone. He was committed and always there for me. When I received my First Class Honours that was my gift; my ‘I’ve done this for you’. And what I’m doing now is all for my daughter, to always be there and support her to follow her desires; to make a living out of being a creative individual - how magical is that.”

Her first inspiration:

“I wanted to be a penguin when I grew up. It’s still an important influence. I want to go to Antarctica to meet my brothers and sisters! Imagine the light in that place – it all relates back to the frozen landscapes that I’ve created.”

The joy of being an artist:

“You can transport your imagination. To say ‘I can make anything’ – I adore what I do.”

“What fascinates me is always 'what’s yet to be’ – the undiscovered.”

She questioned whether that sounded too selfish, too self-indulgent. But what she wanted to convey in those words was a celebration of self-discovery; loving the place that she had reached and the freedom it gave to express herself.

Amanda had discovered the way to ‘be brave, speak the truth… make peace. Be strong… love patiently… give good measure’* and let work be her prayer.

And so, we are left with a wonderful legacy in her glass sculptures - a permanent reminder that we must all cherish life, capture the moment, celebrate the world around us and all that is in it.

*Exhortation – Towards a new balance by John P Rogers

AMANDA

BRISBANE

GLASS

A life that embraced the 'yet to be - the undiscovered'

Amanda Brisbane possessed and shared that gift.

“There was an immediate connection with creating glass, I saw the fire and that was it - there was no other medium I could work with. I have a synergy with the material. I don’t know why but I just understand it.”