Stuart Abelman (B 1949) American, Iridescent Glass Ornamental Bubble. Signed and dated 1996. 

Size: 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 x 3 in. 

#2415 . 

Stuart Abelman was born in 1949 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A quick learner, he showed an early fascination with painting and sculpture, and was accepted to Carnegie Mellon University when he was 17. In his senior year a new art glass department was formed, and he immediately shifted focus to the medium, receiving his BFA and starting his MFA in Glassblowing. He transferred to UCLA, finishing his MFA there in 1976. For one year he taught at El Camino College, before leaving to open Abelman Art Glass Studio in Los Angeles. Along with David Hopper, John Leighton, and Arthur Stern, he is considered one of the pioneer artists and instructors that gave birth to the California glassworks scene. His work never uses paint, but instead creates colors and opacity from specific combinations of metals and alloys, often generating stunning cobalt-hued or iridescent shapes. He was also one of the first to incorporate figurative shapes into glassblowing, including his highly sought after collaboration with Murano on a series of clown figurines. In addition to exhibitions at museums and local Renaissance Faires, Abelman continues to work and teach from his studio, informing a new generation of glass artists.

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