The Journey Begins at Home
A native Washingtonian, Robert was raised in the DC metropolitan area. In the 70’s he studied at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, where he obtained a BS in Business Management. Over the next 20 years he nurtured a successful career in the Accounting and Finance profession. A new chapter in Robert’s life started in 2002 when he took his first art glass course at the Millennium Art Center in Washington, DC. Two years later, he said goodbye to his desk job at the office and opened his own art glass studio, “DC Art Glass”.
During his initial years in art glass, Robert concentrated on developing his technical skills through professional education and training. He attended several established local glass studios as well as The Studio at Corning Museum of Glass. Later, he completed three residencies, two at Pilchuck Glass and one at North Lands Creative Glass in Lybster, Scotland. An education and residency timeline can be viewed below.
During his initial years in art glass, Robert concentrated on developing his technical skills through professional education and training. He attended several established local glass studios as well as The Studio at Corning Museum of Glass. Later, he completed three residencies, two at Pilchuck Glass and one at North Lands Creative Glass in Lybster, Scotland. An education and residency timeline can be viewed below.
“My work explores the relationship between pattern and color through abstract and geometric design. As a medium, I am drawn to glass due to the infinite diversity of color, texture and form. I combine precise temperature control with extensive coldworking to create a unique, contemporary appearance that lends itself to decorative, architectural and functional applications.” – Robert Wiener
Two Decades in Glass
Once equipped with a fundamental understanding and technical knowlege of kilnforming, Robert set out to develop his own, personal style. The result, the birth of his first signature line, The Colorbar Murrine Series. Other series and collections soon followed, including The Lunar Vessel Collection, The Colorcane Murrine Series, The Impressions Collection, The Have a Heart Collection, The Fusebox Collection, The Ornament Shop, as well as several others. Multiple examples are featured on this website and available to purchase here.
In the span of two decades Robert has participated in 80+ juried events and exhibits. A timeline can be viewed below. His art glass has been published in “500 Glass Objects, A Celebration of
Functional and Sculptural Glass“, “American Art Collector” and the “Guild Sourcebook of Architectural & Interior Art“. Robert’s work has also been featured in several magazines including American Style, American Craft, Home & Design, The Crafts Report, Glass Craftsman, Glass Quarterly, Metro Weekly, Good to be Home and Washington Spaces. Public installations include the Marriott Hotel, Tyson’s Corner, VA and the Westin Hotel in Alexandria, VA. Robert’s art has been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the United States and Canada, including the Museum of Arts & Design in NY and the Art Gallery of Ontario in Canada.
In 2021 Robert developed a companion website for the DC Art
Glass studio. The new site, www.ShopDCArtGlass.com, not only provides a safe and secure means for eCommerce transactions, it also exhibits a diverse variety of art glass available for purchase directly from the artist. Most recently, Robert rebuilt his portfolio website, bringing to it a fresh new look that enhances the visitor’s experience.
Today, Robert continues to create new works and teach introductory kilnforming classes in his private studio near Logan Circle in Washington, DC.