Early Life and Education

Howard Ben Tré was born on May 13, 1949, in Brooklyn, New York. His early education included attending Brooklyn College for two years during the 1960s, where he was also a political activist. In the 1970s, he moved to Oregon with his wife, Gay, and attended Portland State University. It was here that he discovered his passion for glass-blowing and earned his Bachelor of Science in Art (B.S.A.) in 1978. His talent caught the attention of Dale Chihuly, who recruited him to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Ben Tré completed his Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in sculpture and glass at RISD in 1980.

Artistic Career

Howard Ben Tré is renowned for pioneering the use of cast glass in fine art. His work involves pouring molten glass into sand molds, a technique that allows for the creation of both small sculptures and large-scale public artworks. His artistic style draws inspiration from African and Japanese religious icons, as well as industrial elements and ancient monuments.

Ben Tré’s studio was based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where he designed, made molds, and completed his works. He utilized industrial facilities in New York, Pennsylvania, and Prague for casting. His pieces often feature gold leaf and symmetrical designs, and his wife, Gay, played a significant role in planning and installing his large-scale works.

Notable Works and Public Commissions

Howard Ben Tré’s works are included in over 101 museum and public collections worldwide. Some of his notable public installations include:

• Caryatids (1998) at the Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Immanent Circumstance (1991) at Norman Leventhal Park, Boston, Massachusetts
• Kira’s Benches (2007) at the Hood Museum of Art, Hanover, New Hampshire
• Mantled Figure (1993) at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Providence, Rhode Island
• Siphon (1989) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York
• Water Forest at the Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington
  
  

Exhibitions

Ben Tré’s work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions both in the U.S. and internationally. Some of the notable exhibitions include:

• Design Visions (1992) at the Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
• Masters of Contemporary Glass (1997) at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Interior/Exterior (2000) at the Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, California
• Howard Ben Tré: Sculpting Space in the Public Realm (2001) at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Private Visions, Utopian Ideals: The Art of Howard Ben Tré (2005) at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
  
  

Awards and Honors

Howard Ben Tré received numerous awards throughout his career, recognizing his contributions to the visual arts and public art:

• National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship (1980, 1984, 1990)
• Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Fellowship (three times)
• First Annual Pell Awards for Excellence in the Arts (1996)
• Artist Award of Distinction by the National Council of Art Administrators (2005)
• Aileen Osborn Webb Award (2006)
• Providence Preservation Society for Urban Design Award (1998)
• British Council for Shopping Centres for Town Centre Environment Award (2002)
• Royal Town Planning Institute for Best Urban Design Project Award (2002)
  
  

Personal Life and Legacy

Howard Ben Tré was married twice, first to Gay Ben Tré, with whom he remained friends after their divorce, and later to Wendy MacGaw in 2004. He lived and worked in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, until his death on June 20, 2020, at the age of 71.

Ben Tré’s innovative techniques and monumental sculptures have left a lasting impact on the field of glass art. His works continue to be celebrated for their architectural forms and the unique interplay of light and material.

Howard Ben Tré’s legacy as a pioneer in cast glass art endures through his numerous public installations and the many collections that house his work worldwide.