Seattle-based artist Matthew Szosz has always been intrigued with the art of blown glass and the shapes this fragile material could take on. This led him to push the limits of its malleability and create an intriguing series of works called “Inflatables.”
The series consists of pieces that mimic the shape and look of a balloon. At first glance, his creations look like a result of a balloon modeling on a much larger scale than usual. However, once you take a close look, you realize they are made out of glass.
Szosz’s glass sculptures start their life as countless glass pieces resting on ceramic fiber paper. The artist then bakes them at high temperatures in the kiln before inflating them using an air compressor. The inflating takes place in a matter of minutes with no room for error.
“Once you pull it out to inflate it, what you get is what you get,” he explained in a recent chat with Colossal.
According to Szosz, his innovative use of glass “explores the intersection of the material, the intellectual, and the poetic.” His creations have brought him a number of awards, including the Jutta-Cuny Franz Award and Tiffany Foundation Grant, while being exhibited in Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, and the Smithsonian Institution, among other places. Take a look at more of them below.
