The Glass Wing at FWMoA
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In 2022, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art opened the Glass Wing, an expansive 3,000 square foot space exhibiting a rotating selection of our nationally recognized glass collection. Viewers will encounter over 100 pieces by international artists from the Studio Glass movement, from the first pioneers of the early 1960s, followed by the second wave of innovative creators, and finally, the voices shaping glass today.
This endeavor was made possible through the generosity of countless donors, collectors, and artists themselves. To inquire about making a possible glass donation to the museum, contact us here.
Support for the Glass Wing comes from the Edward D. and Ione Auer Foundation, The Ardelle and Theresa Glaze Foundation, Ann Spear Borne, Bob and Melanie Hall, Betsy and Jeff Kachmar, Jill and Doug Kinder, Pat and Ron Kohart, Jennie and Pat Pasterick, and Dorothy L. and Paul E. Shaffer.
Current Display in the first room of the Glass Wing – Beyond the Furnace: Cut and Laminated Glass
In contrast to the intense heat required to blow glass, these sculptures are cold worked, meaning there is typically no melting of glass involved. Artists instead use manufactured sheet glass for shaping, adhering, and polishing at room temperature. Far from the drama of the hot shop, these artists capitalize on the optical properties and geometric angles of their medium in its cooled state to create dazzling sculptural works.
‘Cut glass’ as an art term originated in the 18th century when new techniques and fashions were applied to glittering crystal tableware and chandeliers. The cuts, similar to today, were made by large grinding wheels or wet saws that kept the glass from cracking or overheating.
Laminated glass in art refers to the process of adhering two or more pieces of glass together. Contemporary glass artists have adapted these techniques, applying them—often in tandem—to sculptural forms. Using thick glass, shapes are then cut from the glass or embellished into the surface creating abstract and geometric forms.
Artists like Wilfried Grootens, John Kuhn, Michael Pavlik, and William Carlson have developed their own techniques that push the intricate possibilities of cut and laminated glass, ultimately expanding studio glass history.