David Huchthausen is a renowned American glass artist who has played a significant role in the evolution of glass as a fine art medium. Born in 1951, Huchthausen’s career in glass spans over four decades, during which he has made substantial contributions to the field through his innovative techniques and artistic vision.

Education and Early Career

Huchthausen’s journey in glass began serendipitously while he was studying architecture at the University of Wisconsin-Marathon County in 1970. He discovered an abandoned glass furnace and spent six months experimenting with it. This experience led him to learn about Harvey Littleton’s work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where Huchthausen later served as Littleton’s graduate assistant in the early 1970s.

His formal education includes:

• Associate of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Wausau
• Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1970-1975)
• Master of Fine Arts degree from Illinois State University
  
  

Career Highlights and Contributions

Huchthausen quickly ascended to scholarly positions after his education. He became the director of the glass program at Illinois State University in 1976. His career is marked by several significant achievements:

• Fulbright Scholarship: In 1977 and 1978, Huchthausen was awarded a Fulbright Research Scholarship to study at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria. During this time, he lectured extensively across Europe.
• Innovative Techniques: Huchthausen was one of the first artists in the Studio Glass Movement to emphasize cold working and fabrication techniques such as cutting, sawing, laminating, and optical polishing.
• Artistic Style: His work is characterized by crystal-clear geometric forms integrating complex shapes, concave lenses, and intricate color panels. He often uses dichroic glass to create an array of colors that change depending on the viewing angle.
• Teaching and Consulting: Throughout his career, Huchthausen has been active as a professor and museum consultant, contributing significantly to the field of contemporary glass.
  
  

Exhibitions and Collections

Huchthausen’s work has been widely exhibited and collected:

• His art has been featured in over 400 national and international exhibitions.
• His pieces are included in more than 65 museum permanent collections worldwide.
• Notable collections housing his work include:
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
  • The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
  • Los Angeles County Museum, California
  • High Museum, Atlanta
  • Museum of Fine Arts, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • The Corning Museum, New York
  • Hokkaido Museum of Art, Sapporo, Japan
  • Musée de Verre, Liège, Belgium
  • The Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia
    
    

Major Retrospective

In 2016-2017, the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, presented “David Huchthausen: A Retrospective Collection,” showcasing the full breadth of his work from early mixed-media sculptures and landscape vessels to his trademark integral color laminations and spheres.

Collecting and Curating

In addition to his artistic practice, Huchthausen is also a respected collector of Art Deco glass. His personal collection, which he began building while working as a graduate assistant to Harvey Littleton, includes over 120 Art Deco glass works from major studios and artists of the period.

Throughout his career, David Huchthausen has consistently pushed the boundaries of glass art, emphasizing the importance of cold working techniques and creating enigmatic, thought-provoking pieces. His contributions as an artist, educator, and collector have significantly influenced the contemporary glass art movement and secured his place as a leading figure in the field.