William Morris
William Morris is considered among the elite glass artists in the world. His technical mastery of such a fragile, difficult medium invokes immediate respect. His use of color and design on his sculptures, not to mention the subject matter itself, also are reasons for the artist's international renown. His work is strongly influenced by an interest in archeology and ancient pagan cultures and addresses the timeless relationship between humans and their environment.
Morris was born in Carmel, California in 1957. His introduction to, and immediate passion for, glassblowing came at age 20, when he drove a truck for the Pilchuck Glass School. His talent and technical excellence impressed Pilchuck co-founder Chihuly so much that the artist appointed Morris to serve as his gaffer (master glassblower) at his Seattle studio in the early '80s. Upon leaving Chihuly's tutelage for the prospects of his own career, Morris remained in the Pacific Northwest.
Morris' work has been strongly influenced by his interest in archeology and ancient pagan cultures, and addresses the timeless relationship between humans and their environment. His work evokes images from a time when man was more in tune with nature, and is subliminally suggestive of ritual significance. Various works such as the Stonehenge Series, Artifact Vessels, Suspended Artifacts, and Rhyton Vessels illustrate symbolical, mythological influences. He also acknowledges the influence of Italian artists who have shared their knowledge of techniques for crafting glass, so essential to the realization of Morris' ideas into form.
Another unique aspect of William Morris' glass art is his treatment of surface texture, achieved by various techniques such as sprinkling powdered glass and minerals onto a blown surface, etching, and acid washing to achieve "ancient" and textural diversity.
As well as a master glassblower, William Morris is considered to be a revolutionary and provocative artist, whose work goes beyond mere craftmanship to touch the souls and primal consciousness of it's viewers.
Since serving under Chihuly's direction, Morris has become a highly-decorated artist in his own right. In 2002, he received the Artist as Hero Award from the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia and was awarded the 2001 Visionaries Award by the American Craft Museum in New York.
His work can be found in the permanent collections of museums throughout the world, including the American Craft Museum, Corning Museum of Glass, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
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