Will Lynes has been working with sheet glass, gold leaf, and enamel paints for over twenty years. His practice draws on intricate decorative techniques, such as cut glass, silver mirroring, and reverse glass painting.
In Oily Water, Lynes reimagines these eighteenth and nineteenth century traditions, shifting focus away from material wealth toward themes of perception, imperfection, and human experience. Through processes such as distorting silver mirroring and embedding patterns deep within reflective surfaces, he disrupts expectations of polish and perfection, instead highlighting beauty in instability and the unknown.
Canberra Glassworks
Until 26 October 2025
Australian Capital Territory
Will Lynes, LL Tables, 2025, installation view, Will Lynes: Oily Water, Canberra Glassworks, 2025
Photograph: Brenton McGeachie
Courtesy the artist and Canberra Glassworks, Australian Capital Territory
