John Kiley, a Gem, September 2021 at Traver Gallery

John Kiley α Gem

John Kiley α Gem

John Kiley α Gem Traver Gallery

Traver Gallery is pleased to present α Gem , an exhibition of new work by John Kiley. Extending his exploration of the mutable qualities of glass, the six starkly elegant monochrome Fractographs presented in this show are a study in tonality, optics, and transformation. Together, the solid black optical glass sculptures appear like a constellation; their white breaks reflecting light within black planes of glass, like stars punctuating the night sky.

Recognized internationally for his contemporary blown glass sculpture, John Kiley has recently spent less and less time in the hot shop. Since 2015, he has embraced a self-defined studio glass practice that is rooted in concept. Informed deeply by a studied manipulation and comprehension of the material, Kiley uses primary geometric forms as the architecture for his glass sculptures; breaking and stacking optical glass to create dynamic artworks that record a frozen moment in time and the physical intervention by the artist.

In this, his third iteration of Fractographs, the artist uses intense heat and water to break the glass blocks. Though each of the six glass blocks is the same color and has the same perimeter dimensions, the thickness of the glass varies from piece to piece. The result is an apparent array of tones that changes according to the density of the block. The Fractoraphs are presented askew, appearing to tumble or roll through space, referencing the artist’s earlier spherical works, which were frequently balanced on edge. As always, an appreciation for radical simplicity pervades Kiley’s work; provoking us to engage both aesthetically and conceptually.

We are excited to present this significant new body of work at Traver Gallery and proud to share it with you, our friends, and collectors.

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ARTWORKS, BY PAGE NUMBER, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT 5.

Metamorphic Fractograph Ab, 2021 glass

62”h x 23”w x 2.75”d 5.

Metamorphic Fractograph Ca, 2021 glass

65”h x 15.5”w x 1.625”d 6.

Metamorphic Fractograph Bb, 2021 glass

65”h x 18”w x 2”d

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Metamorphic Fractograph Aa, 2021 glass

55”h x 21”w x 3”d 7.

Metamorphic Fractograph Cb, 2021 glass

65”h x 14”w” x 1.25”d 7.

Metamorphic Fractograph Ba, 2021 glass

64.5”h x 22”w x 2.375”d