Ethan Stern

Ethan Stern uses the forms that he blows and sculpts as canvases for his glass carvings - patterns, often inspired by his study of the symbology and color of the art of Aboriginal culture, that are further enriched by the colors within the multi-layered glass surface that are revealed by his carving.

His relationship with glass is a quietly sophisticated one. His carving techniques sometimes mask the fact that his work is even made from glass, creating a matte surface that allows the viewer to take in the simple strengths of form, color and surface texture. Alternatively, sometimes he capitalizes on the transparent, reflective qualities of glass to create luminous, almost prismatic carved sculptures. He represents a new direction for the studio glass movement in the Northwest, a direction that reaches out to include other forms of art such as painting and sculpture.

In 2009 Ethan was one of ten artists selected to be in the exhibit “Rising Stars – Contemporary Glass Artists for the 21st Century” at The Wheaton Arts Center.