Early Life and Career

Vivian Wang was born in 1945 in Shanghai, China. She later moved to the United States, where she initially pursued a career as a fashion designer in New York City. Her transition from fashion to glass sculpture was inspired by the work of Akio Takamori, a renowned ceramic artist.

Artistic Style and Influences

Wang’s work is often described as “Asian Figurative Sculpture,” blending ancient and contemporary elements. She draws significant inspiration from the historic paintings and sculptures of the Tang and Song dynasties in China and the Heian and Edo periods in Japan. Her sculptures often feature Asian figures in formal poses, elaborately clothed in garments adorned with Chinese and Japanese patterns and motifs. These garments are influenced by her background in fashion design, with surfaces that are purposely distressed or “antiqued” to evoke a sense of history.

Wang’s unique use of materials sets her apart. She employs cast glass for the heads, hands, and feet of her figures, combined with stoneware for the bodies. This combination gives her sculptures a haunting, almost intangible quality. Her works are extravagantly embellished with semi-precious stones and crystals, reflecting the opulence and pageantry of ancient court life.

Awards and Recognitions

Vivian Wang has received numerous awards throughout her career, highlighting her contributions to the field of glass art:

• 2019: Artist of the Future Award, Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida
• 2017: Fort Wayne Museum of Art Award, 45th International Glass Invitational Award Exhibition
• 2017: Art Palm Beach Award for Excellence in Creativity
• 2015: Fort Wayne Museum of Art Award, 43rd International Glass Invitational Award Exhibition, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, Michigan
• 2013: Outstanding Glass Artist of 2013, Florida Glass Art Alliance, Miami, Florida
  
  

Exhibitions and Permanent Collections

Wang’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and is part of several prestigious permanent collections:

• Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (2021)
• Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida (2017, 2018, 2019)
• Barry Art Museum, Norfolk, Virginia (2017)
• Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, Indiana (2017)
• Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, Florida (2012)
  
  

Selected Exhibitions

• 2015: “Children of the Yuan Dynasty,” Art Palm Beach, WPB, FL, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, Michigan
• 2014: “Children of the Zodiac,” SOFA Chicago, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, Michigan
• 2014: “Glass Evolved,” 42nd Annual International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, Michigan
• 2013: “Children of Good Fortune” solo exhibition, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, Michigan
• 2012: “Children of the Past” solo exhibition, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, Michigan
• 2012: “Glass Act; Contemporary Studio Art Glass Turns 50,” Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL
• 2010: “Glass Now 2010,” National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, PA
  
  

Legacy and Impact

Vivian Wang’s work continues to captivate audiences with its intricate blend of historical and contemporary elements. Her sculptures not only reflect the rich cultural heritage of ancient China and Japan but also showcase her innovative use of glass and other materials. Wang’s contributions to the art world have solidified her reputation as a leading figure in contemporary glass sculpture.