Deanna Clayton Works

“I'm a contemporary glass artist because I love the versatility and freshness of glass as an artistic medium. The potential for expression in glass is limitless.”

Bio:

Deanna Clayton was introduced to glass right out of high school while earning her Associates in Fine Arts degree in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She began as most glass artists do, by being introduced to a blow pipe and a furnace of molten glass. Her work prior to finding glass was primarily drawing and printmaking, with an emphasis on representing the human form. Clayton wanted to continue her education in glass so she enrolled in the Kent State University program taught by Henry Halem, which had produced some of the most successful glass artists working at the time. After two years at Kent State University she moved to Champaign-Urbana, IL to attend the University of Illinois and finished her Bachelors Degree. While still attending the University she started her glass studio. She worked in central Illinois for ten years and then discovered beautiful Door County, Wisconsin which is where she lives and works currently. Today Deanna's work can be seen in public and private collections around the world. She has taught classes in her techniques at places such as Corning Glass in New York, The Cleveland Institute of Art, and DMG Glass Project in St Petersburg, Florida.

Clayton spent her first 20 years as an artist creating sculptural vessels, specializing in the glass casting technique called pate de verre. When her father passed away several years ago, her art took another turn. Unexpectedly, she found herself modeling clay into a human vessel rather than a decorative one. The translation of the clay form into glass again harnessed the glass’ ability to show life in the material. She often leaves soft, flowing edges at the base of the sculptures to add to the sense of impermanence. She also works with electroplated copper, finding it aesthetically pleasing while serving to ground her figures, enhancing their presence.