Natalie Fobes
Artist Statement
My work as a glass artist is a continuation of my exploration of light in my decades-long career in photography. I began working in glass to add dimension and movement to my photographs but soon fell in love with glass for its own properties.
Each glass sculpture, panel, and vase I create is an interpretation of the interplay between color and form, reflecting my fascination with glass’s ability to capture and refract light. Understanding the properties of molten glass, and guiding it, offers both technical challenge and creative opportunity.
My vases are not merely functional; they serve as sculptural objects where flowers and glass work together, but where each piece tells its own story. Designed to be placed on a windowsill, the colors transform as the daylight changes.
The sculptures in my collection ask people to come closer to discover the patterns and colors that flow through the entire thickness of the glass that’s sometimes three inches deep. Each surface, each perspective, reveals new visual compositions.
Working in glass frees me from just interpreting the physical world around me through photography. I’m now exploring the visual playground in my mind.
Artist Bio
I have worked as a photographer for most of my professional career. My work has gained national recognition. I've completed assignments for National Geographic and other publications, published four coffee table books, and my prints are included in private, public, and corporate collections. I’ve received over 200 international, national and regional awards for my photography.
A decade ago, I began exploring warm glass as a medium. I’m inspired by the interplay of light, form, and reflection. I have learned how to work within the laws of physics that rule manipulating glass. Over the past ten years, I’ve been accepted into intensive week-long workshops at Pilchuck Glass School, Milkweed Arts, and Bullseye Glass. I’ve taken quarter-long courses at Pratt Institute and done more than a dozen online and weekend classes.
When making thick, sculptural pieces, I feel a strong sense of direction. Recently, I upgraded my studio by adding a larger kiln, enabling me to create works larger than what my previous 15-inch kiln allowed.
In the next few months, I’ll be looking for opportunities to share my glass art. And I’ll continue to search for ways to push the boundaries of this medium.