Di Tocker - Contemporary Glassmaker

With over two decades of studio practice

I have always been drawn to glass for its ability to hold light.

Unlike many materials, glass is never still. It changes with the hour, the season and the space around it, inviting us to slow down and look again. That sense of quiet transformation continues to inspire my practice.

My cast glass artworks are shaped as much by observation as by making - the conversations we have, the places we inhabit, and the small moments that often go unnoticed but remain with us.

Cast glass is a slow and demanding medium. Each sculpture evolves through drawing, modelling, mould making, casting, long kiln firings and careful cold-working by hand. It is a process that asks for patience, and one that continually reminds me that meaningful work cannot be rushed.

I studied Fine Arts (major glass) at RMIT University in Melbourne, where I first discovered the expressive possibilities of sculptural glass. Since returning to New Zealand, I have built a full-time practice centred on creating sculptural works for exhibitions, private collectors and commissions. Over the past 20 years my work has been recognised through awards, exhibitions and the support of NZ and international collectors who continue to live with and enjoy my sculptural glass art.

While techniques and ideas evolve, my intention remains constant: to create work that offers a moment of reflection. I hope each sculpture encourages viewers to pause, to notice the changing qualities of light, and perhaps to find their own stories and memories within the work.

Glass has taught me that beauty often reveals itself slowly. Every sculpture continues to change as the light moves across it, making each encounter slightly different from the last. I find great satisfaction in knowing that long after a piece leaves my studio, it continues to have a quiet conversation with the people who live alongside it.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my work. Whether you are simply curious about cast glass, considering a commission, or adding to a collection, I hope these sculptures offer something that resonates with you.

A Few Things About Me

• I work from my studio in beautiful Cambridge, also known as 'tree-town'.
• Most days begin with pilates before heading into the studio.
• I believe light is as much a material as glass.
• I still experience the same excitement every time a kiln is opened.
• I can't do it all!  I am fortunate enough to have a great team around me; husband Mike - business advisor, Grace - studio assistant and photographer and Sierra doing the admin.
• Outside the studio I find inspiration in the outdoors. I am an avid bike-packer and like to experience at least one multi-week biking mission each summer.