When I visited Venice, I had the opportunity to visit a glass artists workshop and watch him work his magic. To say it was a beautiful process is an understatement. Today’s blog is a guest post from Barnaby Kirsen, a UK based art glass seller. Don’t know what art glass is? Read on to find out, as well as view some beautiful examples from all over the world.
Things have moved on since the days of art glass being a collection of uninspiring paperweights or glass ornaments with as much style as a Glaswegian spinster.
Nowadays, the world is full of amazing art glass artists and almost every country offers up some inspiring art to feast your eyes upon.
United States of art Glass
Where to start in this pioneering land. I have had to really squeeze my top ten to tease out the top five , but I think you’ll agree – these people are real glass masters.
David Patchen
This art glass maestro is in a league of his own, and so working out the top spot was no hardship. I came across his work when looking for art glass to add to my Pinterest board and literally drooled over my desktop. This is art glass manna from heaven and comes with a worthy price tag of just shy of $10,000 for the best art glass pieces. I would pimp out my great aunt Edna to have one of his works.
Little River
The name might be little but the glass stands ten feet tall. Well, not literally, but this Vermont outfit of pioneers have really pulled off some great new techniques. The colourful vibrancy of the work they produce could even bring a smile to Victoria Beckham’s lips.
Dale Chihuly
OK,OK, so he is nearly as famous as a B-list Hollywood heartthrob, but for good reason. His art installations are dreamy and exciting and certainly don’t hold back when it comes to being bold and beautiful. These massive works are perfectly balanced in their own quirky way, like a Jackson Pollock, that you only ‘get’ when you stand ten foot back.
US / Murano
Lino Taglapietra hails from Murano in Italy but has worked extensively in the US so he has a foot either side of the Atlantic. His work has that Venetian elegance but with that extra sunshine brightness of the American style. The combination is a really classy high-end head turner and oozes elegance.
United Kingdom
There are many names that deserve a mention but Peter Layton is so far ahead of the others, in my humble opinion, that I am only going to mention him. He is so good I have to stop myself from just typing Peter Layton over and over again like the demented Jack Nicholson in The Shining.
Next time someone criticises art glass, walk a mile in their shoes. That way you’ll be a mile away, and you’ll have their shoes. They deserve it, they have confused the Christmas baubles and faux stained glass windows, with the joy that is art glass. Spread the love.
Barnaby runs Boha Glass – an online art glass gallery, blog and shop.
What do you think of art glass? Do you have a favourite glass artist?
