ARTIST

 

Oliver Leššo

Oliver Leššo´s (1973) work reflects the tradition of pure geometrical shapes and technical perfection of the Slovak glass art from the 1970s, but in a more emotional way. He found his expression not only in optical glass, but over the years he has developed a special kiln-cast technique, which has became his artistic trade mark . He fuses pieces of glass rods, each blasted in to a particular grain, in a mould which results into a net like pattern structure inside of the cut and polished objects, defining the internal space. His objects are characterized by the contrast between the minimalistic surfaces and dynamism inside, mat and transparent surfaces as well as tinted and pure glass. The whole technological process behind Leššo´s glass art is not only extremely time-consuming, but also requires a great deal of practical experience and state-of-the art equipment. 
Some sculptures have been elaborated over a period of several years, with the artist revisiting them throughout.

Education & Teaching (Selected)

1993-1999Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Department of Glass, Bratislava, Slovakia


Awards / Grants (Selected)

1997Volkswagen Design: "Die New Beatles - Vase", Wolfsburg
2012European Glass Context: category “Established Artist”, Bornholm


Exhibitions (Selected)

2011CONTEMPORARY SLOVAK GLASS, Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, Tallinn, Estonia 
Museum of Latvian Decorative Arts and Design, Riga, Latvia 
Museum of Glass Art, St. Petersburg, Russia 
Museum of Glass, Frauenau, Germany
2010Prism Contemporary Glass, Chicago, USA 
Marshall –Lekae Gallery, USA
2009Gallery Handwerk, Koblenz, Germany 
JCC Gallery, Luxembourg 
SOFA, West, USA
2008Quest Gallery, London, UK 
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK 
Plateaux Gallery, London, UK 
“Mastervork” Paris, France
2007-2008OLIVER LEŠŠO, Etienne Gallery, Österwijk, Netherlands
2007Leo Kaplan Modern Gallery, New York, USA 
Maiden lane exhibition space, New York, USA
2005OLIVER LEŠŠO, Gallery  Nova, Bratislava, Slovakia
2003OLIVER LEŠŠO & LUKÁŠ MJARTAN, JCC Gallery, Luxembourg
2001OLIVER LEŠŠO , Etienne&Van Den Doel Gallery, Haag, Netherlands 
GLASS SCULPTURE, Institute of Slovakia, Wien, Austria
2000ARCHITECTURE OF GLASS, Plateaux Gallery, London 
England Museum of Oscar Wild, Dublin, Ireland