TOLEDO, OH.- Hot Spot: Contemporary Glass from Private Collections showcases contemporary North American, European, Australian and Asian studio glass, with many objects on public view for the first time. The exhibition of more than 80 diverse works of art will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Toledo Museum of Art’s SANAA-designed Glass Pavilion as well as shine a light on the impressive and storied glass legacy at TMA.

Artists represented in the exhibition, including glass pioneer Harvey Littleton, underline TMA’s role in the development of the American Studio Glass movement. It was in a garage on the Museum’s grounds in 1962 where Littleton, then a pottery instructor, received the support of TMA Director Otto Wittmann to conduct a glass workshop to explore molten glass in a studio setting rather than a factory. An experimental furnace was built, and though initial attempts to fuse molten glass failed, with assistance from artist and master glass craftsman Dominick Labino on furnace construction, the artists were able to realize the fundamental requirements for this new studio technique.

In 1969, TMA became the first museum to build a facility and studio dedicated to and designed specifically for teaching glass technique.

“Toledo is the American Glass City and the Toledo Museum of Art, as a major player in the history of studio glass as an art form, is committed to nurturing innovative contemporary glass artists through its collections, programs and facilities,” said Jutta Page, TMA’s curator of glass and decorative arts. “This exhibition is the perfect way to reflect on current directions in the studio glass movement in the U.S. as well as studio glass from around the world, with particular attention given to highlighting glass artists not currently represented in TMA’s collection.”

Hot Spot will be on view throughout the Glass Pavilion galleries from April 15 through Sept. 18, 2016. Glass works will be featured in eight thematic groups – the human figure, animals, plants, landscapes, vessel forms, the spirit world, abstract forms and space – and will include works of art rarely on view from private glass collections.

Among the artists included in the exhibition are Joyce Scott, Nicholas Africano, Tom Moore, Kimiake Higuchi, Preston Singletary, Debora Moore, Tobias Møhl and more.