Teachers
Since graduating from Espace VERRE in 2016, Isabelle Alepins has worked with various glass art techniques. As an accomplished artist, she designs and creates unique glass objects inspired by nature and wellness. In her quest to find absolute equilibrium, she explores themes of femininity and nature; curvatures and the delicateness of working with glass in harmony with the movement of water and landscapes. Her objective is to enlighten the public on the beauty and everyday usefulness of glass. At Espace VERRE, Isabelle shares her experienced knowledge with students of the Cold Glass 1 course.
Bruno Andrus received a PHD degree in Art History while lecturing and writing articles specialized on the history of fine crafts of Québec. Following his graduation from Espace VERRE in 1997, he perfected his skills as a glass artist by accumulating work experience in various glass studios of Quebec and abroad. The recipient of many bursaries, he participated in various exhibitions and shows in Canada, the United States, France, Wales and Hong Kong. At Espace VERRE, Bruno teaches Glassblowing IV .
As a glass artist, Antony Brin-Piley divides his time between Canada and the United-States where he has established strong bonds with his public followers. He specializes in the borosilicate glass flameworking technique. Gifted with an open mind and a budding creativity, he produces unique and colorful pieces that are simultaneously functional and decorative. His passion for glass and his whimsical artistic approach will undoubtedly intrigue more than one. At Espace VERRE, he teaches the Flameworking 1 course.
Annie Cantin completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts from UQÀM. Following this, she enrolled in classes and workshops at Espace VERRE and completed a range of glassblowing internships at the Centre international de recherche sur le verre et les arts plastiques (CIRVA) in Marseille, France. In recent years, she received several bursaries from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec which allowed her to continually hone and renew her skills. Her works have received significant visibility which facilitated their passage into the Quebecois heritage. Annie is an artist that combines glass, wood, metal and mirrors to capture the essentialness of nature and an infinite variety of shapes and colors. Glassblowing, her preferred form of expression, is a technique that she has practiced for more than 21 years. She shares her remarkable knowledge and expertise on integrating art within architecture with the Espace VERRE students of the Cold Glass 2 course.
Since completing his glass studies in Yzeure as well as fulfilling several internships in other parts of France, Dylan Duchet moved to Montréal where he enrolled in the three-year programme at Espace VERRE. Following his graduation in 2017, he has progressively implicated himself within the organisation. Furthermore, he is currently the Espace VERRE’s Chief Technician and assures the good functioning of its building and studios for our teachers, students and professional renters. Dylan is a glassblower that integrates engraving and sandblasting in his work. In his artistic practice, he researches movement in natural landscapes and fuses its raw beauty to a creative graphic style. Abstract lines find refuge on refined glass objects. Drawing since childhood, Dylan uses this graphic technique to create the first visual drafts of his creations. At Espace VERRE, he teaches the Technical Drawing course and Maintenance of a glass workshop.
A Catalan-born artist, Montserrat graduated with honors from the Centro Nacional del Vidrio at the Real Fabrica de Cristales in La Granja, Spain. In 2007, she completed an internship at the Centre européen de recherche et de formation aux arts verriers (CERFAV), in Vannes-le-Châtel, France. In 2010, she obtained a B.A. in Visual Arts from the University of Barcelona in Spain, which enabled her to immerse herself in conceptual art. After moving to Canada in 2012, she merged the knowledge she had acquired in these two fields to devote herself to the creation of sculptures and installations. Her career is flourishing internationally. Winner of the Prix François-Houdé in 2019, her poetic works in glass, textiles and other materials are richly imaginative and full of meaning. At Espace VERRE, Montserrat teaches Activité synthèse 2 course with Caroline Ouellette.
After receiving a bachelor degree in industrial design from the University of Montreal in 1992, Carole Frève pursued the glass arts at Espace VERRE. As a contemporary glass and fine craft artist for the last twenty years, her pieces have been shown in exhibitions across Canada and the United States. Glass, copper electroplating and metal wire knitting are recurrent techniques in her sculptural works. Many of her pieces can be found in permanent collections, such as the embassy of Canada in Berlin, the Museum of American Glass (New Jersey) and the Speed Art Museum (Kentucky). Furthermore, she was accredited by the Compétence Culture organization as an instructor-tutor to help artists manage their careers. At Espace VERRE, she teaches 3rd-year students how to develop a creative and glass production enterprise.
David Frigon-Lavoie completes the three-year technical program at Espace VERRE. He graduated in 2013 and have been a part of Fusion until 2015. Since then, he has created many products, participated in exhibitions and marketing activities and has worked with several glassmakers and workshops. In 2002, David was awarded the prestigious Prix François-Houdé. favorite technique is glassblowing which he teaches in the Glassblowing III course to students at our school.
A 2022 graduate of Espace VERRE, Alexi specializes in flameworking, his favourite technique. Whether working with borosilicate or neon, the physical contact with glass gives him greater freedom, finesse and understanding of the material when creating. His artistic approach integrates light and sketches in glass. A neon enthusiast, Alexi works closely with François Alfred Mignault of the Global Néon workshop, acquiring a unique knowledge that he continues to perfect. At Espace VERRE, Alexi teaches the first-year students the Flameworking 1 course.
Jean-Marie Giguère came to the glass art through working with stained glass. Following his studies at the University Laval, he enrolled in the vocational programme at Espace VERRE in 1989. Since then, he has honed his glass art skills by working with many established glass artists. He has received countless distinctions and participated in at least 45 group exhibitions as well as five solo exhibitions in Québec and abroad. His preferred techniques are cold glass work and painting on glass, with a keen interest for the Swedish Graal technique, pairing engraved or painted patterns with glassblowing. He teaches painting on glass to students at Espace VERRE.
Awarded the Prix François-Houdé in 2013, Amélie Girard is an artist whose sensitivity and poetry are important guides in her glass work. Coming from a scientific realm, Amélie first studied mathematics. Following a long stay in Japan, she returned to Quebec in 2010. She then decided to reorient her career and began her glass art studies at Espace VERRE. In 2016, she completed a Master of Glass Art and Science from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Currently, she divides her time between Quebec and Portugal where she continues to develop her projects. Her artistic approach integrates an increasing variety of different materials including glass, ceramic, metal and everyday materials. From sculpture to installation, Amélie carries within her a very profound creative universe. At Espace VERRE, she teaches the Modeling and Molding course, and End-of-Studies Project with Caroline Ouellette.
Originally from Cologne, Germany, Detlef Gotzens apprenticed in a stained-glass studio at the age of 15. Thereafter, he developed an interest for glass technology and design, which motivated him to obtain a Master’s degree from the prestigious Glass College of Rheinbach in 1977. Shortly after immigrating to Canada in 1985, he and his wife opened their studio. This enabled him to complete some important stained glass restorations, as well as work on various contemporary architectural projects. Besides his glass work, he is an accomplished painter and enjoys metalwork. At Espace VERRE, he teaches and shares his passion for wheel engraving with the 2nd-year students in their cold glass course.
Catherine Labonté graduated in 2002 from the fine craft, glass option programme. Her work is inspired by cartoons, featuring humorous glass creations made with various techniques. She received many awards, including the Prix François-Houdé in 2008 and has been a guest artist at the Corning Museum of Glass since 2015. Managing her company Cat Designer Verrier has made her a seasoned entrepreneur. Her works are part of important collections such as Loto-Quebec’s and the Musée national des beaux-art du Québec. Since 2009, she teaches kiln working to Espace VERRE’s 1st-year students.
A 2017 graduate of Espace VERRE, Jinny is co-founder of Noujica from 2008 to 2021. The company specializes in the creation of eco-friendly clothing and accessories combining different materials such as natural fibers, vegetable-tanned leather and glass. Respect for materials, the environment and artisanal craftsmanship are the anchors of every creation. Exploring and understanding materials is an infinite source of inspiration for the designer. Curious by nature, she constantly assimilates new knowledge to offer an innovative vision of glass to future generations. At Espace VERRE, Jinny Lévesque teaches the Glass and Technology course to third-year students.
At the onset of her professional career, Caroline Ouellette co-founded Welmo Studio with her partner Patrick Primeau. Since then, she has participated in many solo and group exhibitions, and her works are amongst several public and private collections, including those of the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and the Canada Council Art Bank. She holds a PhD in glass art from the University of South Australia in Adelaide (2014) and at Espace VERRE, currently teaches Synthesis Activity II and End-of-Studies Project, sharing her expertise with the 3rd-year students.
Gilles Payette completed his studies at the École de sculpture de Saint-Jean-Port-Joli in 1973. Subsequently, he taught wood sculpture while researching mold making in a bronze and aluminium foundry. In 1990, he presented his first series of sculptures with glass integrations. He pursued his explorations with glass with the guidance of François Houdé, Bertil Vallien, Geene Koss and Hank Murta Adams. He set up his own studio in 1995 and has since been represented by many galleries of Canada, the United States and Europe. At Espace VERRE, he teaches the sand casting course to the 2nd-year students.
Donald Robertson graduated from Sheridan College, Ontario, in 1984. In 2014, he completed a bachelor of fine arts from the University of Concordia where he graduated with Great Distinction. He specializes in the pâte de verre technique, for which he is internationally recognized. His works are part of many private and public collections from Eurasia to North America. He is one of the original teachers of Espace VERRE, where he still shares his vast knowledge on cold work, lost wax and kiln work and pâte de verre techniques.
After graduating from Espace VERRE in 2002, Jean-Simon Trottier honed his technical skills by working with several glass artists in France, notably at the Centre international de recherche en verre et en arts plastiques (CIRVA) in Marseille. His accumulated experience places him as one of the best glassblowers of Canada. Whether solo or with his spouse and work partner Montserrat Duran Muntadas, he creates delicate and playful decorative objects and impressive sculptural installations. At Espace VERRE, he teaches the basic elements of glassblowing to the 1st year students