Julie Collis

AUTO BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
Julie Collis was born in Banbury, England in 1953 and emigrated to New Zealand in 1968. She is now a NZ citizen, currently living in Birkenhead, Auckland with her husband, potter Peter Collis. They have two children Sophie (b.1984) and Elliot (b.1988) and live and work together in their home, studio and gallery complex within sight of the Auckland Harbour. As well as glass Julie also pursues a career in acting.

EDUCATION
1968 – 70                 Mt Roskill Grammar School
1971 – 75                 Diploma of Fine Arts, Auckland University School of Fine Arts
                               Diploma of Education, Secondary Teachers College Auckland
1976 – 79                 Westlake girls high School, Art Teacher
1977                        Diploma of Teaching
1978 – 79                 Establish a workshop at home in Long Bay
1981 – 82                 Birkdale College , Art Teacher
1985 – 88                 Westlake Girls High School, Art teacher
1987                        Establish Collis Studios and Gallery at home in Birkenhead
1994 – 01                Westlake Girls High School, Head of Design
2001                        Establish glass workshop at Collis Studios

STATEMENT OF WORK
Julie’s work has spanned a number of media including metal, fabric and ceramic. However a constant theme has been the methods and media of textiles, especially the fabrics (tapa) and woven baskets of the pacific region. Her work has included the application of enamels and glass pieces to the slumped, textured form. There is an excitement in glass, its wonderful translucency, the purity of the coloured surface, and the softness of the very slightly melted glass. Recent work has taken her study of textiles into the forms and decoration of bone china.