Artist Info
EXHIBITIONS
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2022
The Art of Plasma, Creating Lighted Sculpture with Gas, Glass & Electricity book by Wayne Strattman
Page 52
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2021
Light on the Horizon, Plasma Art Alliance virtual exhibit
at the Glass Art Society Conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e08qqLv1UbY
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El legendario artista Ed Kirshner logra capturar la esencia de las auroras boreales dentro del vidrio
OBJECTOS CON VIDRIO, Art Glass Objects, by María Eugenia Diaz de Vivar
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2020
A Flowering of Hope, virtual exhibit with The Plasma Art Alliance
https://plasmaartalliance.com/plasma-exhibition/
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In the form of neon - with Ed Kirshner
An interview with Marta Beltowska
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2019
Blown glass with plasma light class with Jaime Guerrero, Ben Orozco and Percy Echol
The Glass Factory, Boda Glasbruk, Sweden
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2018
Fondazione Berengo, Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti Murano, Italy
Vetro Illuminatro, Murano, Italy: Glass Art Society Conference, Illuminated Glass Show
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2017
The Art of Plasma - MONA Museum Glendale, CA February
Curated in collaboration with Kim Koga Director of the Museum of Neon Art
Video of the exhibit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeNXvHMVNOQ
The Art of Plasma catalog:
Got Glass, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA - Ed Kirshner curated plasma work for the show and displayed several pieces
2016
Bending Brilliance Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass Neenah, WI
2015
Enlightened Glass Show, Works/San Jose, CA
The Tech Museum of Innovation San Jose, CA
The 3rd LAST Festival, Stanford University Palo Alto, CA
10th Annual Fire & Light: Soiree and Art Auction, The Crucible,
Adams and Chittenden Scientific Glass Spring Show, Berkeley, CA
2014
Adams and Chittenden Scientific Glass Spring Show, Berkeley, CA
It's Alive! Iluminated Art Show, Float Gallery, Oakland CA
Enlighten Glass @ Chicago GAS, Glass Art Society Conference, Chicago, ILClay & Glass, Healdsberg Center for the Arts, Healdsberg, CA
Crucible 15th Anniversary: Soiree and Art Auction, The Crucible
Oakland, CA
2013
8th Annual Fire & Light: Soiree and Art Auction, The Crucible, Oakland, CA
Fire & Sand, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ
2012
Individual Artist Workshop, Bernd Weinmayer Studios, Tirol, Austria
Fire & Sand, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ
California College of the Arts, Alumni Show, Oakland, CA
David Ruth Open Studio, Oakland, CA
Alumni Show, Glass Department, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
Bluebeard's Castle, San Francisco Symphony After Hours,
Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, CA
American Mavericks, San Francisco Symphony After Hours,Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, CA
The Science of Art, The Crucible Open House, Oakland, CA
San Francisco Symphony After Hours, Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, CA
2011
Inferno, A Fire Circus. The Crucible, Oakland, CA
Generations: Selection from the Kirshner Family of Artists, Friedkin Art Gallery at Contra Costa Jewish Community Center, Walnut Creek, CA
MONA@30, Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles, CA
Sacred Terrain, Float Art Gallery, Oakland, CA
Fire & Light Soiree, The Crucible, Oakland, CA
Fire & Light Art Auction , The Crucible, Oakland, CA
2010
Heat, A Fire Cabaret, The Crucible, Oakland, CA
Ne10: Illuminated GLass Sculpture, Louisville Visual Art Association, Lousiville, KY
Yuri's Night, NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA
2009
Larry Albright Retrospective & Auction, Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles, CA
Artists of the Crucible , The Cathedral Gallery, Oakland, CA
Fire Light Gallery, The Crucible Fire Arts Festival, Oakland, CA
Industria, Bridgland Studios, Alameda, CA
Illuminated Sculpture, Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA
In the Glow, on National Tour
Dracul: A Fire Ballet, Benefit Gala, The Crucible, Oakland, CA
2008
Plasma Nation, Float Gallery, Oakland, CA
In the Glow, Science Center, Roanoke, VA, National Tour
Luminous Frontier: Exhibit of Neon, Glass Art Society, Portland, OR
Firebird: A Fire Ballet, The Crucible, Oakland, CA
Material Evidence, Float Gallery, Oakland, CA
Luminous Glass, Luniverre Gallery, Paris and Cordes sur Ciel, France
Group Exhibition of Neon and Kinetic Art, Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles, CA
Light and Vision, Swiss Science Center, Technorama, Winterthur, Switzerland
Illuminated Glass, Glass Art Society, Portland, OR
2007
In the Glow, Science Center, Roanoke, VA
Illuminated Glass, Glass Art Society, Pittsburgh, PA
Luminous Glass, Luniverre Gallery, Paris, France
Neon and Plasma Art, California Science Center, Los Angeles,CA
Romeo & Juliet: A Fire Ballet, The Crucible, Oakland, CA
Auction, The Crucible, Oakland, CA
Great Glass Auction, Bay Area Glass Institute, San Francisco, CA
2006
Molten, An exhibition of illuminated glass artwork, Mesa Art Center, Mesa, Arizona
Plasma Glass- Light in Motion, Glass Art/ Glaskunst Galerie,
Innsbruck, Austria
Art and Science, Lawrence Hall of Science,
University of California, Berkeley, CA
As We Glow Forward, Museum of Neon Art, Lost Angeles, CA
Illuminated Glass, Glass Art Society, St. Louis, Missouri
Made in California, Oakland Museum of Art, Oakland, CA
Fire Opera and Auction, The Crucible, Oakland, CA
2005
Touch of Glass, Micaela Gallery, San Francisco, California
Illuminated Glass, Glass Art Society, Adelaide, Austrailia
Hot Shop, 1212 Gallery, Burlingame, California
24 Years with 24 Artists, Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles, CA
Contemporary Glass Art, International Terminal, San Francisco Airport, CA
Auction, The Crucible, Oakland, CA
Carpe Lumen, Thatcher Gallery, University of San Francisco, CA
2004
Neon and Kinetic Art, Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles, CA
Luminous Glass, Venusian Gardens, New Orleans, LA
Fire Opera, The Crucible, Oakland, CA
Illuminated Sculpture, Ohlone College, Fremont, CA
Illumination, Burning Man Festival, NV
2003
Illuminated Glass, Glass Arts Society, Seattle, WA
The Glass Vessel, Kentucky Museum of Art & Design, Louisville, KY
Gas and Glass, Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles, CA
Light Installation, Caretta Shiodome, Tokyo, Japan
2002
Taiwan Neon, Plasma and Glass Shows, Travelling Taiwan
2001
GALA Event, Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles, CA
Auto and Art Show, Peterson Museum, Los Angeles, CA
CARnucopia, Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles, CA
Travelling Light, Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, AZ
2000
Travelling Light, Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles, CA
Plasma: The Fourth State of Matter, Museum of Neon Art Los Angeles, CA
Illuminated Glass , Let there be Neon Gallery, New York, NY
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1999
Hsinchu Int'l Art Glass Festival, Neon Pavilion (featured on poster), Hsinchu City, Taiwan
Travelling Light, Salt Creek Artworks, St. Petersburg, FL
1998
Travelling Light, Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles, CA
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PUBLICATIONS, HONORARIUMS, VIDEOS & AWARDS
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2018
New Glass Review 39; Corning Museum of Glass - Recent Important Acquisitions from museums worldwide
Plasma Cherry by Ed Kirshner and Mitch LaPlante acquired by Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass
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2017
The Art of Plasma (Catalog for show) - MONA Museum Glendale, CA Plasma exhibit light up Museum of Neon Art, Jeff Landa; Glendale News-Press; 2/27/2017
It’s Alive! At the Museum of Neon Art, Bob Gelfand; City Watch LA; 2/27/2017
GAS newsletter, Karen Woodward
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2016
Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA: Presentation on plasma and neon use in art work
Bending Brilliance: Neon and plasma sculpture; Angen der Burght, Glass is
More Magazine e-magazine ella,
Glass 2; The James Bella Collection, Cherry Ed Kirshner and Mitch
Speaking engagements:
Bending Brilliance; Bergstrom Mahler Museum of Glass - The
history of Neon and Plasma with Jacob Fishman; Neenah, WI 2016
Exploratorium San Francisco, CA
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2013
Fullbright Specialist Program Fellowship, U.S. Department of State, 2013 - 2018
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2012
Glass Art Society News, Vol 23, Issue 6, "Social Programs: Future Generations"
Glass Alliance of Northern California (GLANC) Artist Spotlight
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2010
Contemporary Lampworking Volume III, Bandhu Dunham
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2009
KTVU (Video), New Downtown Oakland Art Gallery by The Crucible
World Art Glass Quarterly, Volume 5, "Happy One Year Anniversary to Us"
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2007
World Art Glass Quarterly, Volume 2, "Between Randomness and Chaos with Ed Kirshner"
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2006
Plasma Glass Light in Motion (Video), Bernd Weinmayer & Ed Kirshner
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2005
25 Years of New Glass Review, The Corning Museum of Glass
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2003
Formed of Fire: Contemporary Selections in Lampworked Glass, Bandhu Dunham, Ed.
A Celebration of Glass, Kenneth Von Roenn, Jr. Ed. Butler Books
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2001
Neues Glas Magazine, February Issue, “Artists and Objects”
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2000
Corning New Glass Review 22, Annual Selection
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1999
Gl’Art, Hsinchu International Art Glass Festival Catalog
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1966 B. of Arch. with Honors and the AIA Gold Medal,
University of California, Berkeley, CA
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GALLERIES AND INSTALLATIONS
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Bergstrom Mahler Museum of Glass, Neenah, WI
Fondazione Berengo, Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti Murano, Italy
Swiss Science Center, Technorama, Winterthur, Switzerland
Luniverre Gallery, Cordes sur Ciel, France​
Glass Art/ Glaskunst Galerie, Innsbruck, Austria
di Rosa Center for Contemporary Arts, Napa, CA
Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland, CA
Louisville Visual Art Association, Louisville, KY
Museum of Neon Art, Glandale, CA
Float Gallery, Oakland, CA
The Crucible Gallery, Oakland, CA
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2022
Pittsburgh Glass Center - An expert plasma class for glass solder with Percy Echol, Pittsburgh, PA
2019
Pittsburgh Glass Center - Blow & Glow an expert plasma class for glass blowers with Jaime Guerrero, Pittsburgh, PA
2015
Plasma and Glass Sculpture, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Individual Artist Tutorials, Oakland, CA
2014
Individual Artist Tutorials, Oakland, CA
2013
Individual Artist Workshops, Bernd Weinmayer Studios, Tirol, Austria
Individual Artist Tutorials, Oakland, CA
2012
Plasma Sculpture Presentation, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
Plasma Sculpture Presentation, Pixar Studios, Emeryville, CA
2011
Advanced Plasma Sculpture (with C. Shiess), The Crucible, Oakland, CA
Plasma Sculpture (with C. Shiess), The Crucible, Oakland, CA
2010
Plasma Sculpture (with C. Shiess), The Crucible, Oakland, CA
Individual Artist Workshop, Bernd Weinmayer Studios, Tirol, Austria
2008
Plasma Sculpture (with C. Schiess), The Crucible, Oakland, CA
2007
Glass & Gas Plasma Sculpture, The Glass Furnace, Turkey
Techniques in Glass and Gas Plasma, Glass Art Society Conference, Pittsburgh, PA
2006
Plasma Sculpture (with C. Shiess), The Crucible, Oakland, CA
2005
Individual Artist Workshops, Bernd Weinmayer Studios, Tirol, Austria
Plasma Sculpture (with C. Schiess), The Crucible Oakland, CA
Plasma Workshop, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA
2004
Plasma Sculpture (with C. Schiess), The Crucible, Oakland, CA
Techniques in Glass and Gas Plasma, Ateliers d’Art de FranceVannes le Chatel , France
Individual Artist Workshops, Bernd Weinmayer Studios, Tirol, Austria
Techniques in Glass and Gas Plasma, Glass Art Society Conference, New Orleans, LA
2003
Plasma Sculpture (with C. Schiess), The Crucible, Oakland, CA
2002
Glass and Gas Plasma Workshops, Ropex International Co., Osaka, Japan
MEMBERSHIPS
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Plasma Art Alliance (PAA), Executive Committee
Glass Art Society (GAS), Technical Advisory Board Member (2008 - Present)
Board Member, 2012 - 2018
Treasurer (2014-2015)
Museum of Neon Art (MONA), Los Angeles, CA,
Former Trustee and Treasurer (2000-2008),
Technical Advisory Board Member (2008 - Present)
Glass Arts Society (GAS), member
Glass Alliance of Northern California (GLANC), member
Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI), member
EDUCATION
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2012
Life Sculpture Class, CCA, Oakland CA
2003
The Crucible, Oakland CA, Neon Sculpture with Christian Schiess
2002
Northlands Glass School, Scotland, Master Class with Irene Frolic
2000
Corning Glass School, Corning, NY Summer class in glass and gas plasma
1996-2001
California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA Numerous studio glass classes
1997-1999
Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, WA Summer classes in neon, glass and gas plasma
1995
Academy of Arts College, San Francisco, Neon sculpture class
1968-1971
University of California, Berkeley, Dept. of City and Regional Planning, Masters of City Planning
1962-1966
University of California, Berkeley, Dept. of Architecture, Bachelors in Architecture with Honors and the American Institute of Architects' Student Medal. Studies in architecture, urban design and sculpture
1963
Oskar Kokoschka School of Vision, Salzburg, Austria, Summer sculpture program with Alfred Hrdlicka, prize winner
1958-1960
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, School of Architecture, Studies in architectural design, sculpture, painting and drawing
1956-1957
Art Students' League of New York, Classes in life drawing
Purchase & Commission
Several of the works on this website are available for purchase. Similar work is available by commission. Please contact Aurora Sculpture for more information.
STAFF
Ed Kirshner
Tanner Relyea
Allison Walton
Tami Etziony