Joe Mathews - Artist Portfolio

Joseph Mathews
2025-11-16T15:04:15-06:00

Elemental

The Elemental Collection is a series of glass sculptures inspired by the primal forces that shape our world—fire, water, air, and earth. These pieces are not literal representations, but emotional and abstract interpretations of energy in motion. I am drawn to the moment where chaos and beauty intersect—the flicker of flame, the fall of a raindrop, the quiet shift in wind—and I aim to capture those fleeting experiences in solid form.

Glass, with its fluidity, fragility, and strength, is the perfect medium for expressing the dual nature of the elements. Each sculpture is handmade, shaped by heat and time, echoing the very forces it represents. The layering of colors, the play of light through curves and angles, and the contrast between polished and raw edges are all intentional—meant to evoke emotion as much as form.

Elemental is about transformation. It is about the tension between destruction and renewal, movement and stillness. Through this collection, I invite viewers to reconnect with the raw, unfiltered aspects of the natural world—and to find beauty in the forces that both build and break us.

Stitched Back Together

This work embodies the transformative power of resilience and the beauty found within imperfection. Originally inspired by the Japanese philosophy of 'kintsugi', the art of repairing broken pottery to highlight the flaws.

Breakfast at Grandma's

Inspired by memories of eating breakfast waffles at grandma's house on a Saturday morning, these glass waffle sculptures are one of kind ladle castings into a cast iron waffle maker.

Raindrops

These vessels feature long necks and wide bodies, resembling abstracted raindrops. These pieces explore the shapes, colors, and movement of water in a wacky and playful viewing experience.