Pure, Simple, and Beautiful Forms: Glass from the Collection

Drawn from Palm Springs Art Museum’s permanent collection, “Pure, Simple, and Beautiful Forms” in the Kaplan-Ostergaard Glass Center includes 22 works in glass by artists from the United States and abroad. At a time when we are confronted by tumultuous global issues that challenge the sustainability of the planet, this exhibition examines essential universal qualities of beauty, purity, and simplicity as created by artists working in glass.

The exhibition explores the contemplative theme of solitude through objects that channel simple beauty of the world by conveying serenity and calm, such as Naomi Shioya’s Roof Garden, 2008, and Steve Klein’s Shelter 2, 2010.

It also examines metaphysical landscapes and natural forms, with works focused on beauty inspired by plants, the natural world, the moon and cosmos, and the invisible forces that captivate us, as seen in Cobi Cockburn’s In Still, 2010, Ben Edols & Kathy Elliott’s Red Capillary Leaf, 2010, and Masahiro Asaka’s Surge.

Further, the exhibition features mysterious and enigmatic forms that are based on pure color, geometric underpinnings, and other mysterious structures, such as Richard Whiteley’s Reflector, 2011, and Jessica Loughlin’s Visible Distance 2, 2008.

This exhibition is guest curated by Katherine Hough.

Generous support is provided by Angie Gerber and Deborah & Kenneth Novack.

This season’s exhibitions are sponsored by the Herman & Faye Sarkowsky Charitable Foundation.