Jewellery Showcase: Nadia Tasci

Based in Toronto, Ontario, Nadia Tasci has become a notable Canadian glass artist. Pushing the boundaries of traditional glass bead-making, her glass jewellery is published and available internationally. Her unique methods of design explore the visual dialogue between colour, form, and pattern, creating dynamic and engaging contemporary jewellery.

She studied visual arts at the Ontario College of Art and Design University and Sheridan College's Craft and Design glassblowing program. She has also participated in several creative development workshops over the years in the USA, Mexico and Central America.

Nadia Tasci’s latest Fruita Jewellery Collection and small botanical glass sculptures will be featured in the Jewellery Showcase at the  Craft Ontario Distillery Shop from July 11 – September 6, 2026. 

Nadia is a glass artist that works with hot glass, in a less familiar practice called flame-working. Her jewellery pieces are made of colourful glass bead components with the addition of sterling silver and fabricated into wearable art.

Nadia explains her technique, “In my studio, I am set up at a bench and I use torches to melt glass rods into molten glass. My torches vary in function and flame size and temperature so I can make various scales and details.

"I am often making glass jewellery for various cultural institutions, which include the National Gallery of Canada, Gardiner Museum and the Corning Museum of Glass."

Craft Ontario: How did you discover an interest in glass?

Nadia Tasci: While I was an art student at OCAD University, I was invited to a local glass blowing studio. I had never seen glass blowing before and I became completely mesmerized. I never looked back from that day.

How important is teaching this skill to others? 

I spend a lot of my time in the studio teaching young people and mentoring, I enjoy helping them develop a good foundation in flame-working. I enjoy sharing the knowledge and keeping glass flame-working relevant in the world of glass.

You have taken courses around the world. How have these or other travels influenced you?

During my early years as an artist, I received a travel scholarship from Craft Ontario to study jewellery making at a Silversmithing school in San Miguel De Allende MX. I lived and worked in a studio there and this really shaped who I am today.

What inspired you to create the current collection around fruit and bees?

I think whether we are aware of it or not we are so influenced by our surroundings.
I think my fruit collection and my botanical sculptures are directly influenced by my native pollinating gardens. I am an urban farmer for sure, I have a wheelbarrow and farmer's hat and I am often wandering around in all my flower and vegetable gardens. Gardening is my other passion.

Your work is so colourful, fun, and playful. Where does your craft aesthetic come from?

I am very influenced by design. That can come in any form; fashion, industrial design, interior design, and architecture. For example I am absolutely fascinated by the Mexican architect Luis Barragan. I am always looking at contemporary designs and what is happening internationally. I find it very interesting to see how contemporary design shifts. I really enjoy exploring new ideas!

You have been developing a new sculptural line of work replicating fruiting flowers, is this separate or meant to complement your jewellery pieces?

Over the last few years I have been developing sculptural work, specifically botanical and living forms. I have really enjoyed this new direction. I have included a few fun pieces with this fruit collection. There are a few cherry blossom branches and a strawberry patch, which I even included rotten strawberries made from glass.