Mark Abildgaard Email & Phone Number

I have been working with glass as a studio artist since 1986. The main focus of my work has been the creation of one of a kind cast glass sculptures. I have also been involved in creating site specific sculptures for public as well as private commissions. I have enjoyed the challenges of using different processes to make glass sculpture that can interact with light in the environment. By using blown, cast or slumped glass I can design site specific pieces for any space. I am interested in teaching workshops on kiln casting glass so that I can pass on the information I have acquired over the years. I have had experience teaching at Pilchuck, The Studio of the Corning Museum and the Bullseye Glass Resource Centers as well as many private studios. I would be interested in working with any glass studio or educational institution in providing instruction.Specialties: Glass casting, kiln forming, glass blowing. Kiln casting instruction. Site specific glass sculpture design. Teaching workshops in kiln casting glass techniques

Listed skills include Sculpture, Visual Arts, Glass, Art, and 13 others.

• Studio Artist

  Mark Abildgaard

  Mar 1986 - Present

  I received a B.A. degree in art from San Francisco State University and a M.F.A. degree in art from the University of Hawaii. After graduating from the University of Hawaii I spent nine months teaching glass blowing in Japan at the Tokyo Glass Art Institute. I returned to the United States for a five month residency at the Creative Glass Center of America in Millville New Jersey. During my fellowship at the CGCA I began sand casting glass boats and totems. This work led me to pursue cast glass sculpture rather than blown glass. I returned to Northern California where I established a studio for creating kiln cast sculptures. During this time I developed my own technique for casting glass using open face molds fired in electric kilns. I have taught classes in kiln casting at the Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning NY, The Pilchuck Glass School in Washington, Red Deer College in Alberta Canada and in many other public and private studios. My work has been included in the collections of the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY, the Richmond Museum of Art in Richmond, VA, The Oakland Museum in Oakland, CA, The Crocker Museum in Sacramento, CA, and The Triton Museum in Santa Clara, CA as well as numerous private collections. My studio practice has given me extensive experience in casting, blowing, kiln forming and many other techniques related to glass working. Over the past years I have branched out to work on numerous public and private commissions where I have used glass as well as stainless and Corten steel to create site specific sculptures in a variety of settings. I have been excited by the creative opportunities these projects offer. Each situation presents new possibilities to enhance the visual environment in a particular space.