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ART FOCUS - In the glass artist's studio

We recently had the pleasure of procuring two stunning works by glass artist Dan Alexander. Their vibrant colors and intricate patterns will enhance the architecture of two facing niches in our client’s beautiful Mediterranean home. It’s our pleasure to introduce the artist and touch upon the process and boundless possibilities of glass blowing and this intriguing medium.

Dan attended Kent State University and received a BFA with a Glass Concentration. Post graduation, he studied with some of the top glass artists in the field today. He worked in Murano, Italy, and spent several years working for the Corning Museum of Glass where he held the Lead Gaffer position.

    
Dan Alexander's Kaleido Tower and Kaleido Drop on the left, mockup of the two works in the niches on the right

Instead of looking at the whole image of the world around him, Dan Alexander tries to crop out one element he finds visually interesting and looks at it through a micro lens. He sees how that small piece could be used in repetition to create an overall pattern.

Alexander’s works in glass are a testament to the fusion of tradition and innovation, where ancient techniques meet modern design. Glass art isn’t just about aesthetics – it's a medium for storytelling, a  way to express complex emotions and ideas through a magical process. Glass art is an interplay of math, chemistry, and physics – a perfect manifestation of the interconnectedness of art and science.

Selected works by artist Dan Alexander, displaying a variety of techniques and patterns

But what does it actually take to turn molten material into breathtaking works of art? At its core, glass is sand, soda ash, and limestone melted together until they form a glowing, molten material. Glass needs extreme heat to stay soft enough to shape. Timing, chemistry, and temperature are everything in this process; it takes a skillful artist to carefully shape a vision into a reality in glass.

At the core of the process is a furnace that can reach more than 2,000 degrees and allows the artists to melt raw materials until they become a glowing, honey–like liquid. Using a long steel blowpipe or rod, they dip into the furnace and “gather” a portion of molten glass onto the end.

This first step of skillful gathering sets the foundation for everything that follows.


Glass work being re-heated in the furnace also called "the hole"

Besides blowing into the rod, glass artists also use paddles, tweezers, wooden blocks, and even molds to coax the hot glass into form. This step is often a team effort, with every motion being deliberate, and timing being crucial.

Artist Dan Alexander using wooden blocks to shape the work

One of the most fascinating steps in the art-making process is the addition of color. The jewel–like tones are created by mixing in powdered glass, called frits, or by adding metal oxides during the heating process. The artist can layer different colors, twist molten glass to form patterns and roll the hot glass in chips to create texture to enhance the unique quality of a piece. Through the artist's vision, utilizing clever technique, some pieces replicate marbled stone, while others shimmer with delicate bubbles or streaks of iridescent color.

The artist layers different colors, twists molten glass and rolls the glass in chips to create texture.

Glass is fragile if it cools too quickly, so each piece is placed in the annealer, a special oven where the temperature is slowly reduced over hours or even days to ensure the glass becomes stable and won’t crack when touched or moved. It may not look exciting from the outside, but annealing is the quiet hero of the entire glassmaking process.

From molten sand to shimmering art, the journey of glass is one of science, creativity, and vision.

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October Fairs

Frieze London, UK

October 15th - 18th

The tents were back up in Regent’s Park; Frieze London’s 23rd edition took place on Wednesday October 15th through October 18th, featuring 168 galleries from 43 countries. The London fair is where the fall art season really begins.


The event showcased a wide range of contemporary art through special exhibitions such as "Artist–to–Artist" and "Focus". Key highlights included solo presentations by artists like Lauren Halsey and Sanya Kantarovsky, an artistic entrance designed by Portas Vilaseca, The Pit, and Soft Opening, and a new floor plan by A Studio Between.

Jennifer King's ceramic work, presented by The Pit Gallery

The big galleries presented solo booths that showcased depth; Lehmann Maupin highlighted Do Ho Suh’s translucent architectural installations, and Pace offered up William Monk’s painterly mantras. Stephen Friedman Gallery presented Sarah Ball’s uncanny portraits, with faces rendered so precisely they begin to feel fictional.

   
Sarah Ball, Stephen Friedman gallery and DO HO SUH's work, presented by Lehmann Maupin

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Art Basel Paris, France

October 23rd - 26th

Art Basel Paris returns this October to the renovated Grand Palais, placing the city and its avant-garde legacy at the heart of this year's edition. The 2025 edition of Art Basel Paris, led by Clément Delépine, deepens the dialogue with the city itself. With 206 leading international galleries participating – including 180 within the Galeries sector – and 65 exhibitors operating spaces in France, the fair highlights the strength and vitality of the country's gallery scene and art ecosystem.

Art Basel Paris is held under the beautiful glass roof of Grand Palais



Artwork by Sam Falls, Alicja Kwade and Nick Mauss, presented by 303 Gallery

While every Art Basel fair reflects the dynamic interplay between the show and its host city, Art Basel Paris' connection with the city becomes particularly evident under the glass roof of one of Paris' most iconic architectural landmarks, host of many defining moments for Modern and Contemporary art.

Olafur Eliasson, Sandra Cinto and Ernesto Neto presented by Tanya Bonakdar Gallery

For more than a century, Paris has stood as a cradle of creativity – a living history that will be reflected across its sectors and Public Program. Cubism, Surrealism, Situationism, and many other movements were born in the French capital, and generations of artists, writers, and thinkers shaped ideas that reverberated far beyond the city. That avant-garde will be palpable at the show, thanks to a rich blend of established galleries, cutting–edge newcomers, and world–class creatives.


Yares Art, Booth D24


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