Robin Grebe is a renowned American glass artist known for her distinctive cast glass sculptures and allegorical human forms. Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1957, Grebe’s artistic journey began with a focus on ceramics before expanding into glass.

Education and Early Career

Grebe received her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Ceramics from the Massachusetts College of Art and her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Ceramics/Glass from the Tyler School of Art in Pennsylvania. This dual background in ceramics and glass has significantly influenced her unique artistic approach.

Artistic Style and Techniques

Grebe’s work is characterized by the use of cast glass, ceramic glazes, and transparent enamels to create monolithic and allegorical human forms. Her sculptures are inspired by various sources, including Cycladic fertility icons, early Byzantine paintings, and folk art. Grebe’s figures often serve as a canvas or setting for her narratives, embodying both fragility and strength to illustrate the paradoxes of human life.

Teaching and Professional Development

In addition to her artistic practice, Grebe has contributed to the field of glass art education. She has served as an instructor at prestigious institutions such as the Rhode Island School of Design and the Pilchuck School.

Exhibitions and Collections

Throughout her career, Robin Grebe’s work has been widely exhibited both in the United States and internationally. Some of her notable solo and group exhibitions include:

• Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI (2011)
• Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Canada (2009)
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA (2007)
• Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA (2006)
• National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, PA (2000)
• DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA (1999)
• Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit, MI (1991)
• Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY (1987)
  
  

Grebe has also participated in numerous group exhibitions, such as:

• “All About Seven,” Cape Cod Museum of Fine Arts, Dennis, MA (2014)
• “Shy Boy, She Devil and Isis,” Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA (2007)
• “Glass,” Berkshire Art Museum, Pittsfield, MA (2003)
• “Cleveland Glass,” Cleveland Museum of Art (1997)
• “World Glass Now ’91,” Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Sapporo, Japan (1991)
  
  

Her work has been represented by several prestigious galleries, including Heller Gallery in New York and Habatat Gallery in Michigan, Florida, and Illinois.

Collections and Recognition

Robin Grebe’s sculptures can be found in numerous private and public collections worldwide. Some notable institutions that house her work include:

• Cleveland Museum of Art
• Detroit Institute of Arts
• Corning Museum of Glass
• Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo
  
  

The inclusion of Grebe’s work in these esteemed collections and her extensive exhibition history attest to her significant contributions to the field of contemporary glass art.

Legacy and Influence

Robin Grebe’s unique approach to glass sculpture, combining elements of ceramics and glass, has established her as an important figure in the contemporary glass art movement. Her exploration of the human form and its ability to convey complex narratives continues to inspire and influence artists in the field.

Through her teaching, exhibitions, and distinctive artistic style, Robin Grebe has made a lasting impact on the world of glass art, bridging the gap between traditional craft techniques and contemporary sculptural expression.