Articles - 1 November 2004
International acclaim for Klaus Moje, Australian glass artist
Klaus Moje, the renowned Australian glass artist, has been honoured with international praise for his achievements and contribution to the world of contemporary studio glass. Moje received the prestigious 2004 Lifetime Achievement Award presented by UrbanGlass, New York, America's foremost open-access center for glass art.
This esteemed prize recognises Klaus Moje's international standing as one of the most significant innovators in the medium of glass art, and acknowledges his role as a highly influential educator who has inspired several generations of young artists. Born in Hamburg, Germany, Moje's international connections extended to Australia, where he relocated in 1982. He founded the acclaimed Glass Workshop at the Australian National University, School of Art which under his leadership has earned an international reputation as a centre of excellence defining the growth of the Australian glass art movement.
In recognition of this award a retrospective exhibition has been organised in the celebrated Robert Lehman Gallery at UrbanGlass titled Klaus Moje, A Life in Glass, The 2004 UrbanGlass Lifetime Achievement Award. This exhibition, curated by David Revere McFadden, Chief Curator of the Museum of Arts & Design in New York features 41 works of art, from private collections and is the first retrospective exhibition of Moje's work in the United States.
David McFadden says, "Klaus Moje's work immediately engages the eye through his masterful use of color and pattern. Moje shares intimate glimpses of his world, his memories and his visions as tangible poetry."
Klaus Moje's work will also be featured in this year's International exposition of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art, SOFA Chicago with a solo exhibition of new work presented by Heller Gallery, New York.
Douglas Heller of Heller Gallery writes, 'For a quarter century Klaus Moje has been one of the acknowledged leaders in the international glass community… Now retired from teaching he is devoting all of his energies to his glass and producing the most vibrant and complex works of his career.
Klaus Moje's work at SOFA will be featured amongst other stand out international glass artist greats such as Dale Chihuly and Lino Tagliapietra. SOFA Chicago, international art fair continues from 5 till 7 November 2004. Klaus Moje will be giving a lecture about his work titled Views from Up, Over and Down Under: A quarter Century of Glass Art and education in Europe, the US and Australia.
Catrina Vignando, General Manager, Craft Australia November, 2004
