Modern Glass Art

Modern glass art has been growing in popularity since the 1960s when a more experimental attitude was adopted towards working with glass. Until this point the medium was used mainly for functional pieces, even though some of these were quite decorative. In the 1960s, Littleton, Labino and Lipofsky were probably the most influential names in the United States when it comes to the fashion of using glass for creating purely decorative pieces of art work. Littleton was responsible for starting the first dedicated university program at Wisconsin, with Lipofsky following in his tracks in California.

As the art has progressed, modern glass art has become well known and respected in its own right as an artform. Although Seattle has become an area which has gained a high reputation for the art and has a great many top glass artists resident, Murano in Italy will probably always been know as its home. Glass blowing was originally developed by the Romans and the years of expertise that the Venetians have dedicated to the art are still held in high regard and have provided a strong foundation for young artists to build on.

Working with glass as a medium is not restricted entirely to glass blowing. Although this is perhaps the best known of the modern glass art disciplines there are others which must be considered. Stained glass is a very old artform, one which I am sure you have seen in many church windows. However, it has taken on an altogether different and much more modern character now and can often be seen used for light shades, house windows and some purely decorative pieces. Glass casting is now being used in art as is fusing and lampworking. Some of the most stunning and visually attractive pieces are, however, usually the work of the glass blowing artists. These seem to be getting more and more intricate and complex and the depth of colour more intense.

With the medium of glass being so open to individual interpretation, you cannot possibly pigeon hole the artists or their artforms. Some will favour glass blowing and some of these will specialise in pure and unblemished perfection. Others will opt for a more quirky approach which will result in colourful, avant garde pieces. Modern glass art will never stand still and become mundane as there is always someone around the corner who will come up with a new idea or a different slant on an old idea.

Some pieces of this wonderful art are currently selling for thousands of dollars. If you bear in mind the fact that glass is, by its very nature, sometimes easily damaged, you would be brave to consider spending this amount of money. The beauty and wonderful mystical quality of a piece is easily ruined if the children decide to practice soccer in the living room. Modern glass art is definitely for the grown-ups.

Source : Ezinearticles