Carl Powell

Carl Powell is a National Endowment for the Arts recipient. His works have been displayed in the Corning Museum of Glass, New Glass Review, and the Americans in Glass national exhibition.

From residential stained glass projects, to complete glass environments for public buildings, Powell’s hand-ground and polished thick, clear bevels have transformed the art of glass into a visually kinetic experience. These unique, multi-faceted shapes form prismatic optical illusions of movement, surprising the viewer with an invitation for a closer inspection.

PROCESS
Carl Powell has developed a unique process in which he engraves and drills into the surface of plate glass. The pieces are then laminated with a special archival adhesive. After it has cured, the now-solid shape is hand ground and polished on a series of diamond and finishing wheels. The resulting smooth, clear surfaces allow the viewer to see the engraved imagery floating within the sculpture. As one moves around the piece, the internal optics form geometric patterns that change constantly. This tedious, time-consuming process can take from 100 to more than 400 hours per sculpture.

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