The Light Fantastic: Contemporary Irish Stained Glass Art

“Ireland’s tradition of stained glass art stretches back centuries, and ‘The Light Fantastic’ shows that the art form is no less vibrant today.”

– Dolores Fox Ciardelli

“‘The Light Fantastic’ is a traveling collection of the finest stained glass the Irish have to offer, with themes ranging from the overtly political to quaint musings on everyday life.”

– Brett Gillin, New Times Palm Beach

Since the Arts and Crafts and Celtic Revival styles of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Irish stained glass has been renowned worldwide. The art form is no less alive today. By bringing together the work of 12 leading Irish glass artists, The Light Fantastic: Contemporary Irish Stained Glass Artshowcases the latest innovations in the use of stained, painted, and etched glass in an interior setting. These exquisite works illustrate how the intrinsic qualities of each piece of glass help to shape the images and concepts envisioned by the artist. Aspects as subtle as tiny air bubbles, streaks, wisps of silver wire, brush strokes, and the modulation of tones and depths all affect the perception of the delicate inner world that lingers just beneath the surface. These artists employed a wide range of surface treatments, from painted to barely marked, stippled, enameled, sand-blasted, or acid-etched, to create their incomparable effects.

The Light Fantastic was curated by Mary Boydell, president of the Glass Society of Ireland; and Audrey Whitty, curator of applied arts at the National Museum of Ireland, Decorative Arts & History, Dublin.

Share this article:
More...