January 4 - March 2, 2024

The Elizabeth Leach Gallery is pleased to present a collection of work from the estate of Deborah Horrell. This is the second time the gallery has exhibited her work since her death in 2018. This show, Vessels + Forms revisits her stunning glass work.

This exhibition showcases a range of the glass forms which Horrell honed and perfected over the years. Horrell explored the vessel form in a variety of ways, creating individual portraits and capturing human traits and personality in glass, mastering the pate de verre technique to create work which could seem unwaveringly sturdy and extremely delicate. Horrell’s practice with these works always focused on finding “the resonance”, the sound and shape and feeling that a piece is just right. Resonance was never synonymous with perfection for Horrell, she often embraced imperfections, encouraging them and the unique elements of each individual piece. These works are also about balance, about the pleasure of form and the elegant charm of handcrafted glass. 

Deborah Horrell (1953-2018) received her MFA from the University of Washington and her BFA from Arizona State University. After working as a ceramist for many years, Horrell participated in the Pilchuck Glass School's visiting artist program in 1994. A residency at the Bullseye Factory followed in 1996, permanently changing the trajectory of her career. Her work has been shown, in museums and galleries throughout the country, including the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian (Washington, D.C.), Toledo Museum of Art (Toledo, OH), the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft (Louisville, KY), Racine Art Museum (Racine, WI), Museum of American Glass (Wheaton Village, NJ) and the Portland Art Museum (Portland, OR). Her work is included in many prominent public and private collections including the Portland Art Museum (Portland, OR), the Microsoft Art Collection (Seattle, WA), the Jordan Schnitzer Collection (Portland, OR), the Wexner Center for the Arts (Columbus, OH) and the Tucson Art Museum (Tucson, AZ). Deborah Horrell has been represented by the Elizabeth Leach Gallery since 2001.