Glasgow Glass Artist Meets Tori Amos After Singer Purchases Her Work
A glass artist based in Glasgow has expressed astonishment after singer Tori Amos purchased several of her pieces during a visit to the city and subsequently sought her out to meet in person.
Anita Jenkins has operated a glass art business for approximately 15 years, creating sculptures, necklaces, and Christmas decorations.
Amos, who gained prominence in the 1990s with hits such as Cornflake Girl and Pretty Good Year, was in Glasgow for a concert on Wednesday and visited the Scottish Design Exchange shop.
During her visit, Amos bought multiple works by Anita and requested the store to relay a message to the artist, inviting her to attend the show and meet afterward. She later conveyed to Anita in person how much she appreciated her work.
Anita told BBC Scotland News that she was "still buzzing" from the encounter. The event also provided a financial boost, as Amos purchased items not only for herself but also for her touring crew and family members.
"I'd had a missed call and didn't recognise the number, so I thought it was scam call. But I called back and it was Hannah, the manager at the design exchange - she told me that Tori Amos had just been in the shop and had fallen in love with the glasswork.
"She was asking questions about it, saying some of the designs had reflected her personality and she wanted to meet me if I was free. I thought Hannah was winding me up - she had to convince me it was serious."
Invitation to Concert and Backstage Meeting
Both Anita and Hannah, the shop manager, attended the concert at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall with their partners. They were granted backstage passes and met the singer after the show.
"She had some of the pieces hanging in her dressing room, which was amazing - seeing someone so creative being excited about your work is an incredible feeling. These are things that just started as wee ideas in my head."
During their meeting, Amos discussed Anita's artistic concepts and expressed how much she admired the designs.
"She just wanted to know about the work. There was a genuine warmth to her and how she chatted away. She couldn't have been any more lovely, really. It felt like chatting to a pal you hadn't seen for a while."
The items purchased by Amos included a mirrored sculpture resembling a sweetie wrapper adorned with red hearts, and another featuring several hanging hearts of various colors and textures, creating a rainbow effect.
Impact on Artist and Local Arts Scene
While the financial benefits were appreciated, Anita emphasized that the endorsement had a deeper significance.
"There's always a bit of imposter syndrome as an artist, so hearing someone praise your work is amazing and seeing it affected them is amazing - whether that's Tori Amos or the wee woman who lives down the road from me and buys a robin every Christmas,"she said.
Anita's work has been available through her Glass Apple stall at the Scottish Design Exchange for several years. The shop features creations from hundreds of local artists, which Anita regards as a remarkable asset for Scotland's arts community.
Tori Amos' Visit to Scotland
Amos was in Scotland as part of a tour promoting her 18th studio album, In Times of Dragons, released last year.
