Helen Rudy Glass

Helen Rudy - The Artist. Born in Liberia, West Africa to English and Welsh parents, Helen's varied childhood contributed to her early appreciation for design, color and texture. After growing up in a working Welsh pub, Helen became a Royal Chartered Surveyor, bringing her in contact with the ancient cities in the north of England. With her passion for travel, Helen could be found cycling between the remote religious forts in Bhutan and Tibet, trekking with Berber craftsmen in the high Atlas Mountains of Morocco and exploring the visual elements of the Hmong weavers along the Chinese border of Vietnam. East Africa holds a special place in her heart; she met her husband cycling near Kilimanjaro. The bold and bright colors of the Serengeti and Masai figure prominently in her work. She moved to the US ten years ago and resides in Denver. Helen's exploration of the medium of glass began with her move to the US. Upon visiting a friend's glass workshop, she was mesmerized by the myriad of possibilities of color, form, texture and light transmission possible in every combination of glass. An initial reaction to the bold and bright colorful designs is amazement, closely followed by the question “Are those colors painted on?” The elements of color and design were only half of her interest, as fused/kiln glass requires a rigorous understanding of its technical properties. It is her construction background that lends itself well to understanding the technical complexities of melting and transforming glass. Ten years later, Helen's work has transformed from colorful practical pieces to chandeliers, tables as well as sculpture and installation art. Helen Rudy Glass melds function and form into perfect work of art glass. Her work comprises, bowls, table top pieces to art panels, lights fixtures, sinks and wall art. Each piece of glass is made entirely by Helen Rudy and is signed by her before leaving the studio.