The Springfield Museums proudly presents two exhibitions that explore the inspiration and connection between glass artists Louis Comfort Tiffany and Josh Simpson. Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass and Gilded Echoes: The Tiffany Influence in Josh Simpson’s Glasswork are both on view at the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts from October 5, 2024 through February 25, 2025.
“Visitors will be captivated by the striking parallels between Tiffany’s lush botanical designs and Josh Simpson’s imaginative glass creations in Gilded Echoes,” says Heather Haskell, Vice President and Director of the Art Museums. “The exhibitions beautifully celebrate two visionary glass artists, bridging the timeless elegance of Tiffany’s work with Simpson’s modern brilliance.”
Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass explores Louis C. Tiffany’s enduring interest in the natural world and illuminates his studios’ path from inspiration to expression. This dynamic exhibition features ten of Tiffany Studios’ famously lush botanical lamps and windows, along with nine nature study photographs drawn from the studios’ own extensive reference collection. The Springfield Museums is the premiere venue for the exhibition, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience these masterpieces in a fresh context.
Louis C. Tiffany (1848-1933) tirelessly explored the creative potential of glass, particularly as a medium to express his deep love of nature’s beauty. His personal reference library was filled with books on flower varieties, botany, and gardening, and he maintained extensive greenhouses and gardens at his magnificent Long Island estate. Tiffany staffed his studios with designers, artists, and artisans who shared his passion for the rich colors and sinuous forms found in nature. Their skill, along with the vast range of colors and effects available to them, made it possible for Tiffany Studios to translate natural forms faithfully into glass: velvety or paper-thin petals, waxy or veined leaves, dappled sunlight or shadow, and much more.
Today, floral lamps and landscape windows are among Tiffany’s most recognizable and celebrated works. Perpetually in bloom, these gardens in glass are a passionate celebration of nature, and a testimony to the sophisticated design and exquisite craftsmanship of Tiffany Studios.
Josh Simpson, one of the most innovative figures to emerge from the studio glass movement, found early inspiration in the work of Louis C. Tiffany. Simpson, a Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts artist (born 1949), was captivated by the iridescent qualities of Tiffany Studios’ renowned Favrile glass. As a young glassmaker, he sought to replicate these exquisite glowing qualities, achieving luminous results. Over time, Simpson expanded on Tiffany’s work, developing new methods and formulas that pushed the boundaries of glassmaking. Despite being separated by a century, both artists are united by their unrelenting curiosity, high artistic standards, and fascination with the natural world. While Tiffany’s vases, lamps, and windows bring the beauty of gardens and landscapes into the homes of art lovers, Simpson’s glasswork invites viewers to consider the ocean’s depths, the night sky, and the frontiers of human exploration.
Gilded Echoes: The Tiffany Influence in Josh Simpson’s Glasswork places the works of these two great American glassmakers in dialogue, examining Tiffany’s influence on Simpson and their shared creative impulses. The exhibition features early works by Simpson, alongside mature examples of his renowned starry New Mexico glass and vibrant, multicolored Corona glass. Displaying objects from the generous gift of collectors Katie and Jonathan Oakleaf, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to view never-before-exhibited works by Simpson in the context of the renowned artist who originally inspired him.
“Across the long history of glassmaking, Louis C. Tiffany and Josh Simpson stand out for their innovation and artistry,” states guest curator Maggie North. “As visionaries who reimagined the medium for their respective eras, Tiffany and Simpson created works that convey a sense of wonder about the natural world and the possibilities of glass. These exhibitions offer a rare opportunity to consider their dazzling works in dialogue.”
Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass was organized by The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass in Queens, New York. A premier collection of Louis C. Tiffany’s celebrated lamps and windows, The Neustadt has made it possible for people across America to experience Tiffany glass for over 30 years through its renowned traveling exhibition program. The exhibition is sponsored locally by the Campbell Family.
Gilded Echoes: The Tiffany Influence in Josh Simpson’s Glasswork is made possible by the generosity of glass collectors Katie and Jonathan Oakleaf. The exhibition reflects the Oakleafs’ insightful acquisition of early works by Josh Simpson and is dedicated to their philanthropic spirit.
MassMutual is the season sponsor of the Springfield Museums.
Images above: Detail of Peony Library Lamp, made in New York, sometime between 1900 and 1910. Created by Tiffany Studios under the artistic direction of Louis C. Tiffany (1848-1933). The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass, Queens, NY; Ruby Flower Vase, 1981, blown glass by Josh Simpson (American, born 1949). Gift of Katie and Jonathan Oakleaf. Photography by John Polak.