Ryan Selby

"I try my best to work with the glass, not against it."

Ryan Selby's glass sculptures are inspired by Venetian glassblowing techniques. The tall, thin double-neck sculptures are intended to evoke feeling from the viewer through color and dynamic form. Glass, as a medium, stands out from all others in that the artist cannot actually touch it with his hands. Experimentation with this unique medium has led Selby to his current body works.

The techniques Ryan Selby uses involve cutting through the molten glass with shears and stretching the glass to its limits. The color is achieved by first applying an opaque color, then a transparent color on top of that. When the glass is stretched, a smooth gradation of color is revealed.

Ryan Selby earned his BFA degree with a concentration in glass from Southern Illinois University in 2011. Studying under professor Jiyong Lee, Selby gained skills in glassblowing and cast glass as well as cutting, grinding, and polishing glass. Selby currently lives in Seattle, Washington and works as an assistant to artist Steve Hirt.