JONATHAN SWANZ

b. November 29, 1978

Jonathan has been crafting art for over 20 years developing facility in a variety of media with a focused refinement in the glass techniques of blowing, casting, carving, and sculpting. He has worked with exceptional artists across Europe and the US, including Paris, Venice, Copenhagen, New York, Seattle, and Chicago. He has completed extensive commercial and residential architectural commissions in Honolulu, HI, Cincinnati, OH, Indianapolis, IN, Louisville, KY, and New York, NY, and has pieces in the permanent collections of The Hawaii State Art Museum Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children and Park Lane of Honolulu, HI, 21C Museum and Hilliard Lyons of Louisville, KY, the Headley Whitney Museum of Lexington, KY, and PNC Bank of New York, NY. He studio practice continues to explore parallels in the energetic and social nature of materials and humans by investigating state change and energy transfer through the manipulation of molten glass, digital media, performance, and architectural installations. 


EDUCATION

  • MFA, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI  2013

  • B.A in studio art w/ a concentration in glass and ceramics: Centre College, Danville, KY  2001

  • B.A. in philosophy w/ a concentration in Eastern & Continental Philosophy: Centre College, Danville, KY  2001

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • 2013-2019 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI:

  • 2016 Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, t.a. for Tobias Mohl

  • 2012 -13 Honolulu Museum of Art School, instructor Young Artists Program, ceramics

  • 2010-11 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa: t.a. for ART 130: Introduction to Glass

  • 2009 Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME: t.a. for Tobias Mohl

  • 2006 Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, t.a. for Monica Guggisberg

  • 2004-2010 studio artist, Louisville, KY: specializing in decorative and architectural glass

  • 2003-04 Baldwin/Guggisberg Studio, Paris, France: studio assistant: hot and cold shop

  • 2002-03 Vitramax Grouping, Inc., Louisville, KY: designer, architectural glass

  • 2002 Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY: t.a. for CER 200/500, Special Topics- Glass

  • 1999-01 Leon Applebaum, Glass Artist, Prattsburg, NY: studio assistant: hot & cold shop

  • 1997-99 Stephen Powell, Glass Artist/College Prof., Danville, KY: hot shop assistant

 

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

SOLO

2020

  • Parallel, Honolulu Museum of Art, Honoulu, HI

  • Rainbow Country, Lo’i Gallery, ASB, Honolulu, HI

2017

  • On the Scene, Duncan McClellan Gallery, St. Petersburg, FL

2014

  • Tropical Abstract, Gucci. Honolulu, HI

  • Vibrant Matter. Lane Community College, Eugene, OR

  • Right of Passage. Lane Community College, Eugene, OR

2013

  • PULSE. Commons Gallery, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI

2012

  • Neither Created Nor Destroyed. Fendi, Honolulu, HI

2010

  • J.Swanz @ Lott Blu. Glassworks, Louisville, KY

2007

  • Unfolding. Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville, KY

2004

  • Paris Pollination. Seed Gallery, New Albany, IN

GROUP

2019

  • Art In Hawaii, Hawaii State Art Museum, Honolulu, HI

  • Metallic, Blue Spiral, Asheville, NC

  • I Biennale, Y Center, Honolulu, HI

2018

  • State of Art: New Work (HI State Foundation) Honolulu, HI

  • Raw Design, San Francisco Museum of Craft & Design, SFCA

  • In Dialogue with Nature, Selby Botanical Garden, Sarasota, FL

  • Momentum, The Arts Commission, Toledo, OH 

2017

  • Hawaii Craftsman Annual, Honolulu, HI 

2015

  • Hawaii 5, Tambaran Gallery. New York, NY

  • Abstract Catalyst, Verum Ultimum. Portland, OR

  • Expatriates, Manifest Drawing and Art Research Center. Cincinnati, OH

  • Gallery HNL Inaugural Exhibition. Honolulu, HI

2013

  • Hawaii Craftsmen Annual. Linekona Gallery at Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu, HI

  • JCC Commitment to Excellence. Linekona Gallery at Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu, HI

2011

  • JCC Commitment to Excellence. Linekona Gallery at Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu, HI

  • 83rd Honolulu Printmakers. Linekona Gallery, Honolulu Museum of Arts, Honolulu, HI

2006

  • Spotlight 2006: ACC southeast regional. KY Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville, KY

AWARDS

  • 2018 Hawaii Craftsman, Best of Show

  • 2017 Hawaii Craftsman/State Foundation Merit Award 

  • 2013 John Young Scholarship in the Arts, UH at Mānoa

  • 2011 Partnership Scholarship, Pilchuck Glass School and UH at Mānoa

  • 2006 Merit Scholarship, The Studio at CMOG, Corning, NY

  • 2004 Glassworks Fellowship, Glassworks, Louisville, KY

  • 2002 Early Times Grant, KY Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville, KY

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS

  • PGA Nationals, Palm Beach, FL

  • 21 C, Louisville, KY

  • PNC Bank, NYC, NY

  • Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts

  • The Collection, Honolulu, HI

  • List Sotheby, Honolulu, HI

  • Headly-Whitney Museum, Lexington, KY

  • Jewish Hospital, Louisville, KY

  • Hilliard Lyons, Louisville, KY