My Story: Weaving ancient tales into modern glass
Discover the heart and soul behind GYS Glass Art. Learn about my journey, creative process, and how I bring Aboriginal storytelling to life through glass art and jewellery.
My journey: From ancestry to artistry
Hello, thank you for dropping into my store, my name is Gayle Silveira, a Palawa/Trawlwoolway Clan woman. My journey with GYS Glass Art is deeply connected to my family lineage, tracing back to Mannalargenna, one of Tasmania’s most revered Aboriginal leaders. He died in exile from his homeland of Tebrukunna (Cape Portland) in 1835.
Textures are crucial to how we interpret the world around us. For me, glass captures light in flight, drawing you in to contemplate the artwork. I aim to provide a cultural and historical kaleidoscope through my pieces. When I hold a sheet of glass, I let its flow of texture and colour guide me, transforming this alchemy of fire and sand into an organic scene that honours the material and its origins.
The world’s oldest living culture. Always was, always will be, long after I am gone.
Gayle
info@gysglassart.com.au
Inside the studio: My creative process
My ideas spark from the sea, the sky, and the earth. I sketch, gather colours, and let the stories of Country guide my hands. Most days, you’ll find me experimenting: sifting glass powders, testing new techniques, blending unexpected colour combinations, and shaping forms that echo our landscapes and cultural stories.
Some experiments evolve into finished artworks; others simply teach me something new. That’s the beauty of the process — it’s alive, always changing, and deeply connected to nature and tradition. Every piece begins as a spark from the world around me and grows through play, patience, and cultural respect. My studio is where stories take shape in glass, where old knowledge meets new ideas, and where creativity finds its own rhythm.
Honouring culture through art
Ensuring my art respectfully represents Aboriginal culture is at the core of my work. To bring Aboriginal culture through the stories and connections to Country that guide every one of my designs. Each artwork is a conversation, a visual narrative that respects tradition while exploring modern materials, colour, and form.
I hope my work leaves people feeling connected, inspired, and deeply respectful of the culture it comes from. My goal is for every piece to be both visually pleasing and culturally meaningful, and sometimes it is just for the joy of bringing you the beauty of glass .