Draft:Lance Friedman

Lance Friedman

Lance Friedman (born 1954) is an American glass and digital artist and educator residing in Chicago, Illinois.

Early Life and Education

Lance Friedman is the son of a French holocaust survivor Helene Herson (nee Caplan). His father died when Lance was 4 years old forcing his mother to return to work to support the family. Raised in the Uptown area of Chicago in the 1950’s and 1960’s, the area was home to many expat Abstract expressionist Western European artists. Soon younger artists moved into Uptown’s affordable housing and would become part of the Chicago Imagists movement of painting. Friedman would go from studio to studio after attending Senn High School. and on weekends to watch these artists create their work. He credits his exposure to their work as what influenced him to pursue a life in the arts. Originally starting in ceramics at the Kansas City Art Institute, he learned from well-known instructors Ken Ferguson and Victor Babu. However, he found his true passion in glass art and transferred to the University of California, Berkeley. He studied under Marvin Lipofsky, who was a student of Harvey Littleton. The glass department moved to what is now California College of the Arts, where Friedman graduated with honors and high distinction in 1975. In the 1980s, Friedman continued his education by attending workshops at the New York Contemporary Glass Workshop in Manhattan.


Career and Artistic Practice

In 1987, Friedman founded Shatter Glass Group in Chicago , marking the city's first official glassblowing studio and school. Over the years, he taught glassblowing and visual arts ideation for 35 years, influencing numerous students and hosting
international artists such as Lino Tagliapietra whom he met in Italy earlier while in
Murano and Luccio Bubbaco. His work is featured in the permanent collections of major museums, including the Corning Museum of Glass and the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington 
 Friedman's artistic approach evolved from functional Italian-style glasswork to mixed-media, highly conceptual pieces He drew inspiration from artists like H.C. Westermann, Dennis Oppenheim and Donald Lipsky who all emphasized the importance of ideas over adherence to a particular style or medium. This approach positioned him as an outlier in the glass community during the 1980s and 1990s.

Exhibitions and Recognitions

Friedman has participated in numerous exhibitions worldwide, including:

Byrne Symposium Invitee, Northlands Glass, Lybster Scotland, 2016

20 Instuctors, Corning Museum of Glass Studio Show, Corning NY 2016

Commissioned installation at Forest Park Orthodonics, Forest Park IL 2015

Permanent Collection of the Museum of Glass, Tacoma WA, 2011

Merwin and Wakeley Gallery, Weslayen University, “Moving Target”. One man show and lecture, Bloomington, IL, 2008

Morlen Sinoway Gallery, Chicago, IL. One man show and lecture, 2007

Lance Friedman Sculpture, Habitat Galleries, Chicago, IL, 2001 -2004

International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Pontiac, MI, 2000

New Talent for the Millennium, GLASS Magazine, March 2000

Lance Friedman Sculpture Habitat Galleries, Chicago, IL, 1999

Lance Friedman, Sculpture in Glass, Morlen Sinoway Gallery, Chicago, IL, 1997

Finalist, The International Exhibition of Glass, Kanazawa, Japan, 1995

Morlen Sinoway Gallery, Chicago, IL, 1994

Gallerie L, Hamburg, Germany, 1994

New Glass Review 15, The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY, 1994

Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL, 1991-1992

Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA, 1992

Form and Object: Contemporary Interpretations of Craft Traditions, University of Wyoming Art Museum, Laramie, WY, 1992

Glass Weekend ‘91, Wheaton Village, Millville, NJ, 1991

Marx Gallery, Chicago, IL, 1990-1991

The International Exhibition of Glass, Kanazawa, Japan, 1990

Expressions in Glass, AES Gallery, Chicago, IL, 1990

Permanent collection, Glasmuseum, Ebeltoft, Denmark, 1990

Collection of Commission on Indian Affairs, Portland, OR, 1990

Limn Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 1989

Linklater (British Law Firm) Public Sculpture, Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 2006

Collection, LaSalle Systems Leasing Corporation, Chicago, IL, 2000

Collection, Lancaster Colony Corporation, Columbus, OH, 2000

Grant Selection Committee, Chicago Artists’ International Grant, Chicago, IL, 1997

Permanent Collection of the Utatsuyama Crafts Workshop Museum Collection, Kanazawa, Japan, 1996

Recipient, Chicago Artists’ International Grant to teach and exhibit in Japan, 1996

Finalist, The International Exhibition of Glass, Kanazawa, Japan, 1995

Corporate Collection, Amoco Oil Co., 1992

Collection of Commission on Indian Affairs, Portland, OR, 1990

He was also featured in GLASS Magazine's "New Talent for the Millennium" in March 2000.

Teaching and Mentorship

As an educator, Friedman was a visiting artist at the Corning Museum of Glass and the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington . He also taught at universities across the United States, Canada, and Japan. His commitment to teaching and mentorship has left a lasting impact on the glass art community.

Recent Work and Current Practice

After closing Shatter Glass Group in 2022, Friedman moved on to create glass and other conceptual works using artificial intelligence image generation. This new path has attracted interest from curators and collectors who appreciate his fresh take on art. Currently in remission from cancer Friedman keeps exploring the link between technology and traditional glass art.

Personal Life

Friedman resides in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to his career as an artist and educator, he has balanced his professional work with his lifelong passion for music and serves as a bassist in various groups throughout Chicago.

Legacy

Lance Friedman's work in glass art, as both an artist and educator, has greatly influenced modern glass sculpture. His commitment to new ideas and teaching has inspired many artists and students. He has left a lasting impact on the art community.