Andy Koupal
Glassblower
Detroit, MI, USA
Redefining the vessel
- Andy makes glass objects inspired by industrial and automotive history in the USA
- He spent years honing his craft in production shops in Michigan and Vermont
- He served as an adjunct faculty member at Detriot’s College for Creative Studies
Glassblowing has captivated Andy Koupal since his first experience with the craft in college. Today, his vessels call to mind the contoured fins on classic 1950s cars, appear to be levitating or transform gritty smokestacks into columns of colour. “I just love the process of blowing glass. It captivates all my attention,” he says. Andy's career spans years of college-level teaching and a long tenure of making reproductions in the 1920s-era glass shop at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Informed by the past, Andy’s current pieces encapsulate something fresh and engaging. “I just want to make forms and pieces that are recognisable and approachable. I try to make them honest and allow them to speak for themselves,” he explains.
Discover his work
INTERVIEW
High-purity soda lime glass is my favoured material. With my work, I cannot hide many mistakes so the quality of the crystal is key. I try to create a levitating, floating effect in the final piece, and to produce a high-quality end result, the crystal needs to be transparent.
I like the simplicity in the forms, the functionality and the visual culture around spaceships that was present at the time. It was a progressive time. The colours such as mint green and pinks are my favourite to make as they are bright and have a happy quality to them.
My work is almost satirical. I did not necessarily consciously aim to achieve a playful aesthetic, but over the years, I have channelled this sense into my designs, which are a spin-off of who I am as a person. I keep a good sense of humour about life.
The asymmetry of some of my vessels appeals to viewers. I try really hard to make forms that are different from those of other glassblowers.
Andy Koupal
Glassblower
Detroit, MI, USA
ADDRESS
Address upon request, Detroit, MI, USA
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
PHONE
+1 2487676613
LANGUAGES
English
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