The Chairman of the Phoenix Award Committee (PAC) has praised the work of this year’s winner.
Glass Artist Karen LaMonte was named the Glass Person of the Year by the PAC earlier this year.
The committee highlighted her work in glass and celebrated her ability to masterfully manipulate the medium to explore themes of identity, beauty, and the human condition.
She will receive her award at a ceremony in Prague, Czech Republic on October 11.
Erik Muijsenberg, of Glass Service CZ, is this year's PAC chairman.
Speaking yesterday (Tuesday June 18), this year’s PAC Chairman Erik Muijsenberg, described why Karen was a worthy winner.
He said: “The committee tries to find a balance between continents, industry, and art. We felt it was time for an artist who can create miracles from glass.
“That is exactly what we found with Karen. The life-size figures she creates are impressive to see up close. Also, her deep study into clothing and her recent topics like clouds show the depth of a real artist.
“For her, it is not just an art object; there is so much more in what she makes.”
Karen is a US-born citizen from New York who has lived and worked in Prague since 1998.
Mr Muijsenberg, Vice President at Glass Service, said: “Karen, as an artist working with glass, feels at home in what is still called Bohemia. For me, she is more Bohemian than some locals are.
"She found in Czech Republic the glass expertise she was looking for.”
The full interview with Mr Muijsenberg, which discusses the Phoenix Award as well as more about Karen’s work in glass, will appear in the July/August issue of Glass International.
