SANTA MONICA, CA.- Lois Lambert Gallery presents a series of common object glass sculptures by artist Carmen Spera, titled “Tools of the Trade”.

This series of hyper-realistic glass sculptures is based on the tools that Spera uses every day. The work plays with the idea of magic and illusion by taking these items out of their typical context. The pieces invoke a sense of wonder by giving a glimpse of a common object, followed by the discovery that it is glass which adds a layer of unreality to the work. Spera notes that it’s important to leave some translucency in his work to give the audience a hint of the true nature of the object.

Similar to Spera’s previous reverse glass paintings, these works are focused on examining his process, taking a material as fragile as glass and transforming it into sturdy hardware. For Spera, glass is a truly unique medium, as its translucency can reveal entirely different forms based on the perspective from which it is being viewed.

Carmen Spera received his MFA from New York University, and has a collective body of glasswork spanning over thirty years. He has exhibited in galleries and museums across the world, and is on view in the permanent collection of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. Carmen Spera’s pieces have also been featured in numerous publications such as the International Design Yearbook and Artist Design Furniture. Spera also participated in the 1993 exhibition “6 Glass Artists” at the American Craft Museum in New York City which showcased the works of groundbreaking artists such as William Morris.