Collection: Glen Farrelly RCA

Mae Glen Farrelly RCA yn gerflunydd y mae ei ymarfer wedi’i wreiddio mewn trawsnewid, hanes materol, a gwydnwch barddonol pren. Hyfforddodd yng Ngholeg Celfyddydau enwog Camberwell College of Arts, gan raddio gyda BA (Anrh) mewn Celf Gain (Cerameg), cyn cychwyn ar yrfa 20 mlynedd mewn addysg. Yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, bu’n dysgu celf yn un o ysgolion annibynnol blaenllaw Llundain, lle gwasanaethodd fel Pennaeth Celf.

Daeth trobwynt ar ôl i Glen symud i Galiffornia a phrofi tanau gwyllt dinistriol a ddaeth yn agos at ddinistrio ei gartref. Pan ddatganwyd ei bod yn ddiogel dychwelyd, cerddodd drwy’r dirwedd a ddifrodwyd gan dân, gan gasglu darnau pren wedi’u llosgi a’u taflu.

Ailgyfeiriodd y profiad hwn ei ymarfer artistig yn ddwfn. Gan newid o’i ddeunyddiau blaenorol, dechreuodd Glen gerfio a cherflunio’r pren wedi’i losgi, gan ddatgelu ei harddwch cudd, anrhydeddu ei orffennol, a’i ail-gydosod i awgrymu pwrpas adnewyddedig a gwerth yn y dyfodol.

Wedi’i ddylanwadu’n ddwfn gan feini hir hynafol a’r symbolau a gerfiwyd ynddynt, mae gwaith Glen yn cario ymdeimlad o archeoleg a defod dawel. Bellach wedi’i leoli yng Ngogledd Cymru, mae’n parhau i weithio gyda phren adferedig a phren a syrthiodd mewn storm, gan ddefnyddio’n aml y dechneg Japaneaidd hynafol Yakisugi. Trwy losgi rheoledig, caiff y pren ei gadw, ei gryfhau a’i drawsnewid — gan adlewyrchu’n gysyniadol themâu gwydnwch, amddiffyniad ac ailenedigaeth.

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Glen Farrelly RCA is a sculptor whose practice is rooted in transformation, material history, and the poetic resilience of wood. He trained at the renowned Camberwell College of Arts, graduating with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art (Ceramics), before embarking on a 20-year career in education. During this time, he taught art at one of London’s leading independent schools, where he served as Head of Art. 

A pivotal shift occurred after Glen moved to California and experienced devastating wildfires that came close to destroying his home. When it was declared safe to return, he walked the fire-ravaged landscape, collecting scorched and discarded fragments of wood. 

This encounter profoundly redirected his artistic practice. In a change to his previous materials, Glen began carving and sculpting the burned timber, revealing its hidden beauty, honouring its past and reassembling it to suggest renewed purpose and future worth. 

Deeply influenced by ancient standing stones and the symbols carved into them, Glen’s work carries a sense of archaeology and quiet ritual. Now based in North Wales, he continues to work with reclaimed and storm-fallen timber, often using the ancient Japanese technique of Yakisugi. Through controlled charring, the wood is preserved, strengthened and transformed - conceptually mirroring themes of endurance, protection, and rebirth. 

Glen’s work has been exhibited internationally and is currently shown across the UK in prestigious sculpture parks and galleries.