Born in Cuba and raised in the United States, José Chardiet transforms the still life theme--a logical one for a glass artist--into something surreal. In his sand-cast and blown-glass sculptures, Chardiet stylizes the forms of ancient amphora, vases, and what they might once have held, making them simpler--more abstract and perhaps primitive. He also animates the forms, imbuing them with a sense of vitality. The soft matte colors of his sandblasted glass have the velvety touch of flora. As critic James Yood has written, Chardiet's sculptures "constitute a riot of inventiveness, a richness of color and design that is truly mesmerizing."

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