CELTIC KNOT PAPERWEIGHT
Robert Held wrote’ “I was born in Santa Ana, California and aspired to be an artist from an early age. My father was a sculptor but only lived for the first six years of my life Yet he passed on the talent and appreciation of art that gave me the beginnings of a quest to create beauty in form and color.
COBALT ART NOUVEAU GLASS BOWL
In High School my paintings won the “Ebell Award” for promising students. I studied painting at Whittier College until ceramics artist F. Carleton Ball crossed my path.
To explore this new medium, I changed colleges, supporting myself through this time as the Art Director of the Los Angeles County Fair.
Pursuing a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts at the University of Southern California, I was awarded the graduate assistantship. At this time, I won the prestigious “Glen Lukins Award” for new work in ceramics.
FLOWER CANE PERFUME BOTTLE
Upon graduating, I was offered a position as Head of Ceramics at a college being built in Ontario. I accepted the position becoming the youngest department head at the Sheridan College – School of Design. In 1968, after a visit to the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, I discovered a new love: the art of glassblowing. I returned to Sheridan College inspired and succeeded in launching Canada’s first college level hot glass program in 1969.This program allowed many Canadian artists to become skilled in this medium, and crowned me as the pioneer of art glass in Canada. Eventually, I left the teaching world, and in 1978 I began my own glass studio known as Skookum Art Glass Inc based out of Calgary, AB and operated there until 1987.
GIVERNY BOWL - AMETHYST
At this time, I moved to Vancouver, BC, and continues to enjoy much success there today at my studio: Robert Held Art Glass, and also through the many fine galleries and gift shops that carry my work throughout North America, Europe and Japan.
I use techniques that date back as long ago as 2000 B.C. however, my collections range from classic to contemporary.
MEADOW LARGE CRUCIBLE VASE
Some works are inspired by the paintings of famous artists such as Monet and Klimt, while others take inspiration from photographers and even interior designers. Our studio prides itself on providing its customers with a large selection of affordable hand-blown gift items, as well as my own individual creations for the serious collector. My glass work has also been chosen for many prestigious awards and collections. My goblets were selected to grace the table of the Governor General’s “Perfect Setting” and my newest commissioned piece: a glass bowl encasing 23rd karat gold maple leaves and sparkling dichroic glass now sits in Her Majesty’s Royal Collection.
PEACOCK FLAT VASE
In 2003, a piece from my Flower Line was selected as the Canadian Gift and Tableware Association’s Gift of the Year. My glass sculptures may also be found in major collections such as the Roland Michener and the Indusman.
POPPY PERFUME BOTTLE
In 2009 I created a bowl that our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper presented to the Premier of China at the start of the 2009 Beijing Olympics”.
You can see more of Robert Helds fabulous and great value work at http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/catalog/robert-held-m-8002.html?page=1&sort=3a
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