The art of Brian Hirst combines glass, engraving and etching to produce a body of work that is unique in Australia and acclaimed both here and overseas. He has vast experience born of a vision, which continually questions traditional parameters in sculpture and the nature of materials.

Glassblowing is a fluid process. It is full of surprises and the final result requires the artist to both predict the outcomes and embrace the inevitable random effects of light, colour and form. Hirst's ability to harness the unexpected and use it to focus on his intentions brings to mind an experienced painter, although the processes for working in glass are significantly more complex. Like a great painter or draughtsman however, his technical prowess has provided the freedom to allow his emotions to flow freely through to the work. While these sculptures contain polished ideas and meditations about form and materials, we also find a mature body of work that displays a vision reflecting the emotional life of the artist with spectacular results.

- Bill Gregory