is the creation of internationally recognized glass artist,
Latchezar Boyadjiev. His sculptures are in museums and private collections around the world, including the permanent collection of the White House.Latchezar Boyadjiev was born and
raised in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he attended the Ceramics Department of the Academy of Applied Arts. In 1985 he was admitted to the prestigious Academy of Applied Arts in Prague, Czech Republic (formerly
Czechoslovakia), under the guidance of Professor Stanislav Libensky, one of the most prominent glass artists of our time and influential source for most glass artists in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In 1986, just after graduating from the Academy, Latchezar Boyadjiev defected to the United States via Italy.
After settling in California, Boyadjiev worked for more than ten years in the field
of optical glass, using cold work techniques such as cutting, grinding, polishing and laminating to create his optical glass sculptures that he became initially
known for. Since there were limits to the size of his objects, he decided to change to a different technique to accomplish that goal.
His drawing technique changed from pencil to charcoal, the glass technique from optical to cast glass.
The Academy's strict curriculum of daily drawing and design classes for five
years had its intended effect on the young student. Today, the artist is saying, when he is working on new designs, he keeps drawing until something finally
strikes him. New designs sometimes take him hours, days or weeks to complete.
Once a drawing is satisfactory, a clay model is made. The next step is the
actual sculpture rendered in clay with perfectly smooth surfaces and details. Next follows a series of positive and negative molds, a time time consuming and
detail oriented process that will lead to the final plaster positive that will determine the outcome of the sculpture.
Initially those plaster positives were delivered to the Czech Republic by the
artist in person, with the goal of selecting the best glass casting studios and glass color selections available. It also gave him the opportunity of working with
some old friends from days past, to create his new glass sculptures that were cast into yet another mold, and later annealed, partially ground and polished.
His new and exciting work was introduced at SOFA 1997 in Chicago and the response was very enthusiastic - dynamic sculptures reflecting depth and dimension, a new approach to contemporary glass art and design.
Today, Boyadjiev brings his artistic and production skills to two, new award lines: the Optical Crystal Collection for multiple units and the Art Glass Collection
for one of a kind and limited series recognitions. The Art Glass collection is a collaboration with glass artist, Jeremy Cline (see below).
Exquisite Awards' Art Glass Collection is the partnership of LB Glass with glass artist, Jeremy Cline, an international designer and master
glass blower. The work is a fusion of the artists' talents and techniques.Jeremy Cline's glasswork reflects his love for the medium, his fine craftsmanship and an ongoing endeavor to better his working
processes. He started working with glass in 1987 at Santa Monica College, then furthered his education at the California College of Arts and Crafts and Pilchuck Glass School.
In 1991 he apprenticed with Pino Signoretto, Master Glass Artist, in Murano, Italy. This experience was a turning point in Jeremy's career, whereby he heightened his level of proficiency in Venetian glass
techniques and achieved a comprehensive understanding of the Artist-Designer relationship.
After his return from Italy in 1992, Jeremy opened his own studio. Jeremy's
personal work examines the vessel as an art form, taking cues from the glass itself, as well as from antiquity and contemporary sources.
Besides creating his own unique work, Jeremy uses his facility to produce various pieces for other artists and designers, including custom lampshades for
the lighting industry, and work as diverse as Venetian style stemware to solid sculpture to prototypes for industry. Jeremy continues to expand his abilities, techniques and methodology in pursuit of excellence in glass.
