Mimesis: The Natural World in Glass

Across the globe, humans have imitated the natural world through different artistic mediums, pictorial languages, and creative genres. While this practice precedes language, the earliest writing on the imitation of nature was Aristotle’s Mimesis in the 4th century BC, stating that it is fundamental to the human experience to imitate nature through art.

There is a constant dialogue in art history between objective imitation and subjective interpretation. This means that artists create both sober depictions of the observed world as well as emotional perceptions of a moment or object in nature,emphasizing its essence through creative interpretations. Glass sculptors explore both realms with a medium whose malleability, luminescence, and fragility capture the heart of the natural world.

This culmination of work highlights contemporary glass artists who emulate the elegant beauty and fragility of nature. Andrea Spencer, featured in her first U.S. museum exhibition, emphasizes the intricacies and transient nature of marine plants and algae through lifelike depictions in flameworked glass. Together with artists from the collection, Spencer investigates the boundaries between humankind and nature, bringing glass to life before our eyes. 

This exhibition is curated by Brit Micho, Curator of Exhibitions, and is supported by the Edward D. and Ione Auer Foundation.