Matt Kolbrener

My approach to shaping blown and cast glass focuses on the prismatic interaction between surface and light. Inspired by the post-industrial landscapes of Detroit, the surface textures that I explore in my work are derived from the imagery of industry. I fabricate steel tools from industrial machine parts that I use to shape and texture the molten hot glass. Then, when cold, I hand cut and polish the glass with diamond abrasives. All of my pieces are handblown, cast, and coldworked in my Detroit studio where I capture the city’s rich aesthetic history in an industrial modern retro style.