FIT Institutional Repository

Title

Glass in the Art World: How Glass Crosses over into Contemporary Art

Contributor Names

Reischman, Danielle (Author)

Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York. Art Market Studies (Degree granting institution)

Joselow, Evie T. (Thesis advisor)

Date

2022

Degree Information

M.A. Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York 2022.

Department: Art Market Studies.

Advisors: Joselow, Evie. Committee members: Degen, Natasha.

Abstract

Throughout history, the glass medium had typically been considered a medium of craft rather than a fine art. This was due to the medium being used for functional purposes, such as vases, drinking cups, pitchers, and other vessels. Craft can be defined as handmade objects of clay, fiber, glass, metal, or wood; thus, the assumption that all glass work is craft is valid. However, in more recent years, glass has been crossing over into the contemporary art market due to the high content-driven works and diverse uses of the glass medium. Challenging the way glass is being considered an artistic medium is being done by many glass artists and artists working with glass, including Dale Chihuly, Toots Zynsky, Beth Lipman, and Josiah McElheny. This paper discusses the various ways in which these artists are making the transition from craft to contemporary art. Chapter 1 discusses the studio glass movement, the Pilchuck Glass School, the first-generation glass artists, and the second-generation artists working with glass. The glass pieces made by these artists are essential to recognize because the diversity of their work shows the various ways the glass medium has been interpreted. Chapter 2 explains the artworld presence of the artists and their glass artworks, including gallery representation, exhibitions, and studio practice. Understanding how the art experts classify the artists and represent them, along with how these artists are exhibited, demonstrates how glass artists have started to cross over into contemporary art. Chapter 3 analyzes the contemporary glass market, comparing glass sculptures and installations to ceramic works of art, viewing how databases are classifying the glass artworks, and receiving direct information from the gallery representatives on the artists' markets.

Subject

Glass as art material

Glass craft

Chihuly, Dale, 1941-

Zynsky, Toots, 1951-

Lipman, Beth, 1971-

McElheny, Josiah, 1966-

Pilchuck Glass School

Artists

Glass art

Glass sculpture

Art glass

Rights

In Copyright

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Identifier

FIT Repository ID: lb_sc_000897

pqdiss: 29061103

ISBN: 9798438783329

Type

Text

Thesis

Language

eng

Publisher

Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations & Theses,