BEAUTY: Glass--Andy Paiko

I am completely blown away by the blown glass work of Andy Paiko. His Bell Jars series and his Reliquaries series are both literally breathtaking. As a maximalist and collector, I have always loved the idea of bell jars and cloches to keep and preserve special objects. Displaying them in such a way elevates them, calling attention to what makes them unique and precious. And what could be more precious than the idea of a reliquary. The shapes, scale, and detail of these glass objects recalls ancient glass blowing techniques from Eastern Europe, particularly Poland, where one can see very old examples of this type of glass art. But Paiko has an eye on the present as well, with a few designs that are angular, modernist. It is all stunning...

http://www.andypaikoglass.com/

BEAUTY: Glass and Neon--Laura Hart and Steve Archer

These beautiful and startlingly lifelike orchids are made from glass by English glass artist Laura Hart--but of course the neon centers give them away as a man-made object.

"Several years in design and development, the Orchis Exotica sculptures are the result of a union between 3D virtual sculpting, CAD (Computer Aided Design) and traditional glass making techniques. With tolerances of only 3mm between the petal layers, the advantages of 3D design technology and rapid prototyping come into their own. The sculptures begin life as virtual models, from which individual petals and the supporting ‘cradle’ are 3D printed in durable resin. The most complex lip petal shapes are reverse engineered in pliable silicone in order that they can be safely removed from final plaster moulds.

The bicoloured neon centres, created by Steve Archer, represent the flower’s reproductive organs and are themselves representative of a rare skill.

Having designed several neon art installations, I endeavoured to safely hide the unsightly electrodes, wires and transformers that are synonymous with neon, whilst ensuring the safe running, maintenance and longevity of the light source.

The resulting Orchis Exotica sculptures are simple to construct, maintain and situate as single artworks or as multiples for larger installations."

Unexpectedly, the scale of the orchids is quite large! Here, the artist stands below one of her creations.

http://hartglass.com/exotic-orchids/

BEAUTY: Glass--Frida Fjellman

I am wild about the amazing work of Swedish glass artist Frida Fjellman. She has managed to invent a new style of light that is a post-modernist take on a traditional chandelier. Instead of a fixture with crystal drops, she magnifies the drop itself and fashions entire light fixtures out of clusters of these gigantic faceted objects. Her colors are gorgeous, and just look at them in actual rooms. Stunning. I can't wait to show these to interior design clients and see who might love them as much as I do!

http://fridafjellman.com/

BEAUTY: Glass--Simone Crestani

Italian glass artist Simone Crestani creates stunning glass bonsai trees. He has a poetic Artist Statement about this series:

"While my hands were still becoming familiar with the art of glass working, my thoughts were already putting down roots and binding me to this material for ever. Solid bases, branches that grow and seek the light: the first projects were still only inside my head and already had the form of a bonsai. The bonsai is the symbol of my work; it is the art of giving form, with respect and full understanding of what I am taking care of. The bonsai is a concentration of life, it overcomes the barrier of size and expresses strength and energy; it is a work of art that is never finished, in which nature continues to develop and evolve. I shape the material, but the end result has an identity of its own. I help it to grow, and wait until it gives me an indication of the equilibrium that will allow it to express itself."

http://www.simonecrestani.com/

Glass Cares = Glass Magic

For Glass Cares, the design initiative studio Off Portugal enlisted ten designers to create original glass pieces which will be shown in the the "Inspiring Portugal" design pavilion at the upcoming London Design Fair in September, 2017.

http://offportugal.com/

BEAUTY: Glass--Alexandra Keck

Alexandra Keck may have graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Industrial Design but she also takes some lovely photos and is a grand fine artist. Look at this amazing conceptual art piece she created: a glass book, seven sheets, each one etched with a continent. When closed, she says "the overlaid continents transform into an abstraction similar to broken glass."

Stunning.

https://www.behance.net/alexandrakeck
http://www.alexandrakeckphotography.com/

Indefinite Vases by Studio E.O.

It is easy to forget that glass is not a solid--it is a a liquid. And these marvelous vases by Erik Olovsson of Studio E.O. in Stockholm bring that point home. I love how each vase has been blown to drape, droop, slip, or slide over a gorgeous polished piece of marble, granite, or onyx. Playful, whimsical, and biomorphic.

http://studioeo.se/