Glass Lifeforms 2025
February 7 – April 20, 2025 / Free opening reception Feb. 7, 6–9pm
Glass Lifeforms 2025 is a juried exhibition featuring 50 glass biological models of flora and fauna of the past and present.
Inspired by Rudolf and Leopold Blaschka’s glass biological models made in the 19th and 20th centuries for Harvard University’s museums, this is the third iteration of Glass Lifeforms to be hosted in Pittsburgh Glass Center’s Hodge Gallery. Previous Lifeforms exhibitions were held in 2013 and 2016.
In addition to the in-person exhibition, all 99 submissions to the exhibition are available to view in the online gallery.
rudolf and leopold blaschka
Glass Lifeforms is inspired by Rudolf and Leopold Blaschka’s glass biological models made in the 19th and 20th centuries for Harvard University’s museums.
In 1886, George Lincoln Goodale commissioned Leopold Blaschka and his son Rudolf to make botanical models for the Harvard Botanical Museum. He chose the Blaschkas because they worked in glass. In the late-19th century, glass was the best material for the job.
Other models of the times were made out of papier mâché or wax and did not stand the test of time. No other material could be molded and manipulated to render organic forms as beautifully and accurately nor relied upon to last as long as glass.
At the time, the public was intrigued by the unique plants unearthed by explorers and by the oddities of the sea being discovered by the newly invented submarine and deep sea diving kit. The Blaschkas offered a glimpse into those unknown, exotic worlds with their amazingly precise and detailed glass models. Through the years the Blaschkas made over 10,000 glass models.
For this exhibition at PGC, artists were invited to create their best biological models in the spirit of the Blaschkas.
FEATURED ARTISTS
Lauren Aria & Tracy Drier
Madison, Wisconson
Carolyn Baum
Bradenton, Florida
Ryan Bavin
British Columbia, Canada
Will Beattie
Providence, Rhode Island
Jean Dominique Bebak
(Nature Bone Studio)
New Jersey
Jill Benfield
Florida
Lyncia Berry & Julia Rogers
Virginia
Dan Buchanan
Pittsburgh, Pennsyvlania
Deb Crowley
Oregon
Lisa Demagall
Ohio
Jackie Doehling
Minnesota
Caitlin Dolhi
Harrison City, Pennsylvania
Maria Donnai
United Kingdom
Serbay Doru
Turkey
Robert DuGrenier
Vermont
Kathleen Elliot
San Jose, California
Shane Fero
Penland, North Carolina
Alessia Fuga
Murano, Italy
William Geffroy
France
David Graeber (Graeber Art Glass)
New Jersey
Evelyn Gottshall Baker
Colorado
Claire Hasko-Young(hy-arts)
California
Alli Hoag
Toledo, Ohio
Peter Jacobsen
Tacoma, Washington
Silver Kim
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Evan Kolker
Oakland, California
Pat Langley
Oklahoma
David Licata
Connecticut
Michael Mangiafico (FiG)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Crista Van Slyck Matteson
Seattle, Washington
Angela McHale (Rose Glass Art)
Massachusetts
Robert Mickelsen
Florida
David Nasca
Chicago, Illinois
Lyla Nelson
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Jupiter Nielsen
Washington
Kelly O’Dell
Washington
Michael Potecha
Brooklyn, New York
Sally Prasch
Massachusetts
Bryan Randa
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Mahine Rattonse
Mumbai, India
Jeremy Sinkus
Massachusetts
Raven Skyriver
Washington
Dean Bensen &Demetra Theofanous
San Francisco, California
Milon Townsend
Rochester, New York
Jessica Tsai
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Victor Trabucco
Amherst, New York
Anastasia Vasiliadis
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mauro Vianello
Venice, Italy
Jennifer Violette
Wilmington, Vermont
Jerry Ward
Windsor, Connecticut
EXHIBITION RESOURCES
View all 99 entries to the exhibition, as well as detailed descriptions of the artworks at www.glasslifeform.org.
