Artist Profile: Karen Gola

Gola Glass

I am inspired by the pure forms found in nature--the gentle curve of a leaf, the graceful movement of flowing water, the intricate patterns of a snowflake.  Glass is an amazing material that can capture the organic essence of nature.

I work with glass because I appreciate the material in all of its forms.  I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a historic center of glassmaking in North America.  My family heritage is Czech, a land renowned for beautiful glass art.  It was these influences that have led me to working with glass.