Lara Knutson
- Objects become special when you experience a moment with them. The materials I’m using create a situation where the viewer sees light flash at them, sometimes it's only for a moment. What I love most about this material is that it's not always interesting. Everyone in a room is seeing something different and the material engages people to interact with it.
My current work stems from over 10 years of experimenting and paying attention to the different phenomena that I’ve noticed with reflective glass fabric. It's about stretching the limits, living with the material and noticing what happens. It seems to be inspired by growing up at the beach and looking at the night sky. I've always loved looking at natural things that glow and reflect light such as fish scales, sea shells and water glistening on the surface. I think it's important to follow my intuition while working and most importantly, without judgement, allowing materials to act like they want to in order to uncover their inherent beauty. I'm not trying to force meaning onto something, it's more about finding the meaning by letting these materials reveal themselves to me. For instance, one of the major things i notice is that the material really kind of dances and responds to the viewer. - Lara Knutson
Artist, Industrial Designer, Architect
Museum Acquisitions:
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, “Soft Glass Basket” 2012
Corning Museum of Glass, “Soft Glass Vessel” 2010
Recent & Upcoming Exhibitions:
Monsters, One Mile Gallery, Kingston, NY September 2016 curated by artist Richard Saja
“Line Describing a Cone”, Katonah Museum, 2015, Curated by Eva Respini, 1st Place Winner
Annual Gala Fund Raiser, Urban Glass, Brooklyn, NY 2014
Residency, Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY 2013
40 Under 40, Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, Washington, DC 2012
“Threat”, American Design Club, Brooklyn, NY 2012
The Weather, Salone del Mobile, Milan, Italy 2012
The Future Perfect, New York, NY 2011, ICFF 2011
How it’s Made, DEK22, Rotterdam, Holland 2011
BREAKABLE, Heller Gallery, New York, NY, 2010
BOFFO, New York, NY 2008
Publications:
40 Under 40, Pratt Folio, Pratt Institute, 2013
40 Under 40, Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, 2012
New York Times 2011
*Several Magazines and Websites
Education:
Pratt Institute, Master of Industrial Design 2011
Pratt Institute, Bachelor of Architecture 1999
Danmarks Designskole, Furniture Design 1998