Biography

Luna Ryan first visited Australia in 1981 from the Netherlands during a journey discovering parts of the world other than Europe.

Initially she attended courses in stained glass but after finding the format limiting she enrolled at Australian National University School of Art, Glass workshop in 1987, headed by Klaus Moje.

After gaining skills in blowing glass and kiln casting, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in 1990, and received the Australian National University Award.

Since graduating Ryan has run a full studio based art practice as well as conducting field trips overseas and around Australia. Since 1991 she has been based at Australian National Capital Artists studios in Canberra. She has exhibited widely in Australia having had three solo exhibitions and has been a regular attendee at major glass conferences in Australia and overseas.

In 2003 Ryan was invited to conduct a glass workshop at Tiwi Design, the art centre on Bathurst Island, part of the Tiwi Islands north of Darwin. After the success of the first workshop she was invited back and it was then that she developed an artistic partnership with Tiwi artist Jock Puautjimi. In 2005 Ryan received a substantial grant from the ACT Government to continue this collaboration.

Puautjimi and Ryan are currently working towards an exhibition at Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre which will include cast glass Pukumani Poles (Tiwi burial poles), and Ryan's own work.

Ryan will be conducting kiln casting classes at the Canberra Glassworks.