Exhibition of leading Czech and foreign studio glass artists associated with benefit auction.

The historically first Glass Treasure originates from July 2014; it was then created by the hands of the American glass artist Janusz Pozniak in a newly ignited ladle furnace František. The Glass Treasure has since gradually expanded with pieces made by the hands of both leading and emerging glass artists.

Following the last year interest in novel works of young artists, this year we focused even more on young emerging artists, students of glass schools and on already established artists with a “non – glass“ background. One such example is the painter Michal Ožibko, who  created an object in a form of a gummy bear. In the work of Michaela Spružinová, on the other hand, you will find a conceptual approach. Instead of expensive base material, she uses purposely used material, glass shards, to make unique images reacting on real forms of woman body, in opposition to a strict ideal of the contemporary pop culture beauty.

Blown vases made by Jakub Petr, the graduate of Prague Academy of Art, Architecture and Design belong undoubtedly among interesting works of young Czech artists. Jakub Petr’s objects are based on innovative technological processes.

Playfullness and experimentation with material predominates mostly in foreign authors objects, which best describes floating golden canoe of the Japanese glassmaker Takeshi Ito, inspired by the children’s drawings, or the breakfast object called “Fried Egg“ of the American glassmaker David Peterson.

At the pre-auction exhibition Glass Treasure, works made by already established glass artists such as Vladimir Klein, Janusz Pozniak or Rob Stern, will not be missing. The glass sculpture made for the first time by casting technique by the worldrenowned glass artist Martin Janecký, will be undoubtedly the greatest specialty of this year’s auction.

The Benefit auction of all exhibited works will take place on Wednesday 15 November 2017 from 7PM on. The profit from the auction will be donated to support children and youth educational activities organized in the Glass Art Centre Glassworks František in Sázava.  Part of the profit will be donated to support children in the Sázava foster home.

The exhibition and auction partners are Josef Viewegh foundation, City Sázava and Central Bohemia Region.

The Glassworks František is a unique technical monument representing the evolution of glass art and craft in the Czech Republic. It was built in 1882 by Josef Kavalier who named it after his father. However, after the construction of new glass shops and halls in Sázava, its importance started to drop and it was progressively deteriorating.  In 2010, it was registered into the list of Cultural Heritage of the Czech Republic. It was Josef Viewegh foundation who embraced the rescue of this monument. It has been renovated with a 130 million Czech crowns grant given by the Integrated Operational Program and on July the 7th, 2014, the Glass Art Centre was formally opened. Visitors can see, among others, a part of a unique modern glass collection made by glass artists during the International glass symposium IGS in Novy Bor between 1982 and 2006. The Centre offers as well educational programs for schools, residences and creative stays for students, emerging artists, professionals and general public. The Glass Art Centre is managed by the non-profit company Ways of Glass.