Much of Lisa's inspiration comes from the complex colors and patterns found in nature. Her work conveys a feeling of organic movement and texture, both visual and tactile.
her work includes vases, bowls, platters and ornaments. She is also one of the few American glassblowers making furnace-pulled glass beads, which she uses to create her own original line of jewelry.
Lisa Oakley's hot glass studio is nestled between a forest and a group of buildings housing both glassblowers and potters on the grounds of Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmor, North Carolina. Her parents, Sid and Pat Oakley, both potters, started the gallery with their own work in 1968. Over the years it had grown to support more than ten resident artist, and over 200 regional and national craftspeople. Lisa splits her time between blowing glass and operating the gallery.
She graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina with a B.A. in Psychology. She has studied glassblowing extensively at Penland School of Crafts with instructors including Robert Levin, Norwegian glassblower Willy Aanderson, Robert Gardner, Ken Carder, Joe Nielander, Charles Correll, Gary Beecham, and Dudley Giberson among others. She also studied glass in Japan.
Lisa is a member of Glass Art society, C.R.A.F.T., and is an exhibiting member and vice president of the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild.
