Artist's Statement
There is a hidden art to sculptures created
in hot glass. It is the dance of balancing moss & coaxing it into
existence, but this is a privileged view point like knowing how a magician
performs his illusions. I am inspired by my team of artists which provides me
with the skillful hands required to create my visions in sculpture. Everything
I make requires talented assistants, and sometimes I require up to five on the
most difficult sculptures. My team lets me focus on creating the
sculptures of my dreams. Behind the art there is a scientist in me and I find
it very satisfying to design, engineer and build my so equipment which includes
crucible furnaces, oversized kilns and many various peripherals. This
global view of my process gives me the ability to create custom equipment or
melt special glass formulas and is a requirement for my omastery of the medium.
I create sculptures in a broad range of
styles, or series. I tend to delve into a series for several months at a
time then my mind will desire a new realm of creation, so I move into a new
series. I internally process the work in the previous series, as well as
digest the finished result of my vision. When I revisit the series I have
a fresh approach and new id
s
.
will go next.
Having immersed himself in the traditional techniques of Italian glassblowing Jeff Thompson finds himself experimenting with his interpretations of this medium. His sculptures are an intelligent blend of contemporary, traditional and custom techniques that he further compliments with his diverse taste in modern sculpture.
Jeff Thompson
Position
Thompson Studio
-Independent artist creating sculptures in hot glass for collectors and art galleries, 2001-present
-Personally designed & built modern hot glass studio in 2001: 350 lbs. of liquid glass in a freestanding molybdenum element electric furnace & all associated studio equipment.
-Oregon Art Beat Alumni, October 2007, episode 906
Education
-Master Class Batching Colored Glasses, 2013
-Pilchuck Glass School, 2009
-Eugene Glass School, 2003
-Pratt Fine Arts School, 1998
-Maude Kerns Art School, 1997
-University of Oregon, Undergraduate Studies 1995-1997
Selected Exhibitions
2013 -Tacoma Museum of Glass, Red Hot Party, featured artist
-Kittrell/Riffkind Gallery, Dallas TX, featured artist
2012 -Kittrell/Riffkind Gallery, Dallas TX, featured artist
2010 -Tacoma Museum of Glass Red Hot Party, featured artist
-Maui Art Glass Invitational, Wailea Beach Marriott Resort, Maui, Hawaii
-The Bender Gallery, Asheville, North Carolina, featured artist
-Carlyn Galerie, Dallas Texas Glass Invitational
-Elements Gallery, Bellevue Washington, featured artist
-RNS Showhouse, Ocean City New Jersey, featured artist
2009 -Carlyn Galerie, Dallas Texas Glass Invitational
-Rotunda Gallery, Central Oregon Community College
2008 -High Desert Museum, Bend Oregon, Desert Visions
-Ice Fine Jewelry, Bend Oregon, Featured Artist
-Betty Gray Gallery, Sunriver Oregon, Rock and River
2007 -Betty Gray Gallery, Sunriver Oregon, Celebrations?
-Tower Theatre, Bend Oregon, Fall Art Hop
-Sunriver Library, Bend Oregon, Featured Artist
-Tower Theatre, Bend Oregon, Spring Art Hop
2006 -Barclay Gallery, Sisters Oregon, Art in the Dark
-Tower Theatre, Bend Oregon, Fall Art Hop
-Oxygen Urban Art Gallery, Bend Oregon, Grand Opening
-Barclay Gallery, Sisters Oregon, A Touch of Red
2005 -Ernst & Ernst Gallery, Cannon Beach Oregon, Spring Unveiling
-Carlyn Galerie, Dallas Texas, Pearls of the Sea
-Alder Gallery, Coburg Oregon, La Petite XII
-Contemporary Crafts Museum, Portland OR, Drinking Glass Competition
2004 -Oregon State University, Corvalis Oregon, Handmade in Oregon
-Ernst & Ernst Gallery, Seaside Oregon, Totems and Waves
2003 -IceFire Gallery, Cannon Beach Oregon, Spring Unveiling2002 -Firehouse Gallery, Vancouver WA, Inspirations from the Sea
Television
2007 -Oregon Art Beat, Oregon Public Broadcasting, October, episode 906
Selected Publications
2007 -Community Living, featured artist