Matthew Curtis

Matthew Curtis (Australian, born England 1964), Bronze and Scarlet Cell, 2008, blown and cold-worked glass. Gift of David Kaplan and Glenn Ostergaard, 2019.187a-b.

Matthew Curtis immigrated to Australia in 1981 and began his career as a glassmaker at the renowned glass blowing studio, Denizen Glass in Sydney.

Curtis works with the glass technique of casing and cameo carving, in which layers of different colored glass are carved away to reveal contrasting layers beneath. This work is blown in several layers, allowing different colors to be revealed through cutting with diamond wheels and blades. The final finish is achieved by sandblasting and acid-polishing.

This sculpture demonstrates Curtis’ sly playfulness, his technical expertise, and his understanding of the relationship between glass and light. With strong color, matte surfaces, and horizontal banding, the sculpture recalls the complex cellular growth in plant forms.