Kenny Pieper Works

Artist’s Statement

In this series I call “portrait vessels”, I am incorporating two of my long-standing interests.  One is to work with the human portrait and the second is to explore the history and techniques of Italian glassware.

In working with the portrait, I am interested in creating a character.  I often start with the memory of someone I know, or sometimes the idea of a personality trait.  I then render the features to evoke the feeling I have.

Italian glassware is famous for thin functional ware.  I am intrigued with its use of color, patterns in cane work, and sensibility of form.  As I address these two ideas, I feel like I am molding historic, traditional glassware with a twist of something more familiar.