Bio

April Surgent’s art is rooted in observation and research, addressing climate change, vulnerable ecosystems, and the social issues surrounding these challenges, with a particular interest in marine ecology. Her projects have taken her from Antarctica, as part of the National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Artists and Writers Program, to Southwest Alaska with the U.S. Geological Survey, and to Hawaii, where she worked as a field biologist for NOAA’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program. She currently lives and works on Washington State’s Quimper Peninsula.
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Surgent graduated with honors in 2004 from the Australian National University, majoring in glass. While her work spans many mediums, her primary focus is cameo engraved glass. Her journey with glass was profoundly shaped by Czech master engraver Jiří Harcuba, who introduced her to the technique of engraving in 2003. This method has since become central to her practice. For over two decades, she has redefined this traditional craft through contemporary approaches. Her work has earned notable accolades, including the 2009 Behnke Foundation Neddy Fellowship and a 2016 USA Ford Fellowship. Additionally, her pieces are part of esteemed collections, including Iowa State University, the Toledo Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
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