The Glass Wing at FWMoA
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.
Currently exhibited in the first room of the Glass Wing – Luminous Bodies: Figures in Glass
Throughout history, humans have always had a desire to represent ourselves through art. From Paleolithic cave drawings and ivory carvings, to contemporary sculptures, paintings, and photography, the human figure remains one of the most enduring subjects in art history.
Depictions of the human form convey many themes—power, beauty, remembrance, identity, morality, and even fantasy. Ultimately, however, they capture the broader narrative of what it means to be human. Portraying humankind creates connections to each other, reflecting what we see, what we wish to remember, and how we interpret our world.
The emergence of the Studio Glass Movement in 1962 shifted glass from a craft into a fine art. Since then, artists have explored traditional themes, genres, motifs, and aesthetics related to the human figure. Differing from conventional mediums, the artists use the formal qualities of glass, such as transparency, fragility, and luminescence, bringing new meaning to an old subject.
This exhibition, drawn from the permanent collection, features figures expressed in glass by artists such as Martin Blank, Latchezar Boyadjiev, Robin Grebe, Bertil Vallien, and Janusz Andrzej Walentynowicz.