Matt Kabat has been working in glass since 1990, when he began studying under Steven Rolphe Powell at Centre College. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993 and was awarded the Woodward Art Prize for the most outstanding undergraduate art student. He studied glassblowing, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, and art history, with an unusual double major in art and mathematics.
Matt spent a year studying at the Appalachian Center for Craft where he continued working in glass, but with an added focus on conceptual sculpture. He also attended classes at the renowned Pilchuk Glass School and studied under Lino Tagliapietra, Tom Farbanish, and Hank Adams.
Matt has
recently recieved his M.F.A. in sculpture at the University of Illinois.
While studying under Jose Chardiet and Bill Carlson, Matt continued to
use glass as his primary material although his work broadened and embraced
other traditional sculpture materials and more complex conceptual themes.
Matt is an excellent glassblower in the Venetian tradition and continues
to teach and pursue hot glass working out of a deep passion for the process
and the material.
Quote: "My background in mathematics and hard science has led me
to a strong interest in evaluation and definition which has become one
of the strongest concerns in the development of my art. This interest
ultimately has led me to be concerned with the process of conceptualization.
I feel glass has the unique ability to bridge the gap between the physical
and the imagined. Glass possesses mercurial qualities of transparency
and solidity which give it the perfect attributes to act as a metaphor
for conceptualization. Because of this I continue to use glass as my primary
media although my work continues to broaden and embrace other materials
and more complex conceptual themes."
Matt enjoys practicing Tai Chi, writing art criticism and teaching at Parkland College and the University of Illinois.