Thomas Kelly Paperweights

Rare Op Art paperweight was hand blown in elongated ovoid shape. The colored rounded central gather has evenly distributed swirls of blue glass with randomly added yellow pigment placed in abstract, graphic pattern, with the whole structure enclosed in clear glass in sommerso technique. Subtle reflections of the central colored core in clear glass part of the paperweight add complexity and visual interest to otherwise minimal piece. The paperweight is signed and dated by the artist in etching on the bottom. Thomas Kelly is an established glass artist working in Vitrix Hot Glass studio in Corning, New York. He started in the glass studios of Alex Brand and Thomas Buechner where he had the opportunity to learn from two distinctly different artists, each having their own unique talents; Kelly worked for 10 years with Thomas Buechner III at Vitrix Hot Glass Studio, developing his glass working skills and aesthetic sensitivity. At Vitrix, visiting artists such as Lino Tagliapietra and Fritz Dreisbach...