Tala Kaalim
Australian Glass Artist
Tala Kaalim is a glass artist based in Adelaide, Australia, whose practice is deeply rooted in the hot formed nature of molten glass. She is drawn to the glass’ fluidity and luminosity; by this her work explores the peaceful movements, moments and stillness of the world around her.
Kaalim’s journey with glass began during her studies at the University of Sydney, where an introduction to the hot glass studio sparked an enduring fascination. She completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Hons) in 2018, followed by partaking in the JamFactory Glass Associate Program (2019–2020) in Adelaide, a pivotal period that refined her technical skill and conceptual approach.
Her evolving practice bridges both production and experimental glasswork, investigating how form, optics, and surface interact with light and environment. This ongoing exploration has led her to participate in residencies, mentorships, and national art prizes. In 2020, she was awarded the Carclew Rapid Response Grant, undertaking a mentorship with renowned glass artist Jessica Loughlin, further developing her sensitivity to the material’s subtleties. She was also the recipient of the University of Sydney Pilchuck Scholarship, enabling her to attend a summer program at the Pilchuck Glass School.
From 2021 to 2024, Kaalim remained embedded in the Adelaide glass community, refining her artistic voice. In 2023, her work has been recognized as a finalist in the Deakin Small Sculpture Prize and the Coffs Harbour Still Life Prize.
Most recently, Kaalim spent 2024 in Maldives, working at Soneva Art & Glass. Here working with her team they engaged with sustainability-focused glassmaking only using recycled bottle glass in the furnace. She was the Junior Gaffer at Soneva Glass Studio, later transitioned into the senior gaffer where she spent her time maintaining the studio and refining her skills and drawing inspiration from the vividly beautiful marine environment.
Education
2018 Bachelor of Visual Arts (Glass) First Class Honors,
Sydney College of The Arts, The University of Sydney
2019 - 2021 JamFactory Glass Associate Training Program, Australia
Employment
2022 - 2024 Studio Assistant, Jamfactory Glass Studio, Australia
2024 Junior gaffer, Soneva art and Glass, Maldives
2025 - Commission Assistant, JamFactory Glass Studio, Australia
Teaching Assistant
2025 - Ben Cobb Masterclass; Strips, dots and Colour, JamFactory Glass Studio, Australia
Residency Assistant
2024 - Peter Hora
2024 - Clare Belfrage
2024 - Ben Cobb
Career Developing Workshops
2019 Nick Mount, Product design workshop, JamFactory, Adelaide
2019 Aya Oki, Signatures in Glass, Pilchuck Glass School, USA
2020 Clare Belfrage, Gesture and Expression, JamFactory, Adelaide
2021 Ben Edols, Cane and Bowl workshop, JamFactory, Adelaide
2021 Tom Moore, Glass is Glue, JamFactory, Adelaide
2022 Annette Blair, Time spent on subtleties, JamFactory, Adelaide
2022 Giles Bettison, Murrini with Bullseye sheet glass, JamFactory, Adelaide
2023 Yusuke Takemura, Cold Working workshop, JamFactory, Adelaide
2023 Granite Calimpong, Dissecting Simple, JamFactory, Adelaide
Scholarship and Grants
2019 Pilchuck Glass School, Summer Program Scholarship awarded by the
University of Sydney
2020 Carclew, Rapid Response Grant, South Australian Government
Residencies
2020 Gate 8 Studios, Adelaide, South Australia
Mentorship: Jessica Loughlin
2022 Australian National University, Canberra, Australian National Capital
JamFactory Glass Residency Program
Selected Exhibitions and Collections
2019 Group Exhibition, Salient Circumstances at Factory 49, Sydney
2020 Group Exhibition, Surface, 1K Chairs, Adelaide
2020 Group Exhibition, 2020 National Emerging Art Glass Prize,
Wagga Wagga National Glass Gallery
2020 Group Exhibition, JamFactory Generate 2020, Adelaide
2021 EOS by SkyCity, Private collection, Adelaide
2022 Nascent Glass, JamFactory, Adelaide
2023 Small Sculpture Prize, Deakin University, Melbourne
2023 “STILL”, Still Life Prize, YAM, Coffs Harbour
Representation
2019 - Present JamFactory Retail at Septifield and Adelaide City, South Australia
2021 - Present StudioXOX, Sydney, New South Wales
2025 - Present Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
