Ron Desmett (1948-2016)

Nationally recognized artist working in glass and mixed media and the cofounder/developer of the Pittsburgh Glass Center

EDUCATION 1979 MFA, Sculpture, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 1971 BS, Art Education, University of Akron, Ohio

EXHIBITIONS

2016 MAXIMUM MINIMUM IN UNUM. Curators: Joshua Reiman and Susanne Slavick Miller Gallery, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 2015 Glass : A Delicate Balance. Kim Foster Gallery, New York City 2012 Eccentric Beauty. New Work by Ron Desmett, Kim Foster Gallery, New York City, NY Transitions in Black and White, Fowler-Kellogg Art Center, Chautauqua Institution, NY 2011 Curious Harmony, Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA Cycles and Symbols: Nature in Glass, Museum of American Glass, WheatonArts, Millville, New Jersey 2010 A Decade and Change, Borelli Edwards Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA 2009 A Matter of Form, Cohen Gallery, Alfre, dNY Perestroika,(n) Restructuring: The Glass Sculpture of Kathleen Mulcahy, Ron Desmett and Martin Prekop, Selby Gallery, Ringling College of Art and Design, Sarasota, Fl 2008 New Glass Review, Corning Museum International Review, Corning, NY 2007 New Works, West Virginia University, Morgantown WV Truth/Beauty Chautauqua Center for the Visual Arts, Chautauqua Institution, NY hpgrp gallery, New York, NY Project 4. Washington, D.C. Celebrating Connections: Contemporary Glass by MidAtlantic Artists, Museum of American Glass, Millville New Jersey GLASSIFIED James Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA GLASSNOST Regina Gouger Miller Gallery, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 2006 Truth/Beauty The Hodge Gallery, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh, PA Savoir Arts Exhibition Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Farmington, PA 2005 Well Hung : Chandeliers Revealed, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh, PA 2003 25th Anniversary Exhibition The Glass Gallery, Bethesda, MD Artists Crossing Lines Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh, PA 20/20 American Museum of Glass, Millville, NJ 2001 Artist Image Resource Foreland Street Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA 2000 Westmoreland Museum of Art, Greensburg, PA 1998 Recycling Art History Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA 1999 Mendelson Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA 1997 Kean University, Union, NJ 1996 His+Hers+Ours Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Galleries, Pittsburgh, PA ReVisions The Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield, OH 1995 Rosemont College, Philadelphia, PA 1994 The University of Akron, Akron, OH 1994 Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA 1993 Five Sculptors Ohio State University, Lima Campus, Lima, OH 1992 Current Trends (award) Huntington Museum of Art, HUNTINGTON, WV 1992 National Glass Invitational Concept Art Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA

1991-1994 Hard Choices/Just Rewards II Johnstown Art Museum, Johnstown, PA; The Blair Museum, Toledo, OH; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; Everhart Museum, Scranton, PA; Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA; Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA; The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA. 1993 Works on Walls, Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, WV 1989 The University Museum at Indiana University, Indiana, PA 1988 Spaces, Cleveland, ONH 1983 New Glass Review, Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY 1981 American Art at Its Best, American Art Incorporated, Atlanta,GA 1979-92 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA

AWARDS, GRANTS AND HONORS 2010 Artist in Residence, Tacoma Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA 2009 Artist Fellowship, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts 2006 New Hazlett Theater, Allegheny Center, Pittsburgh, PA AIA Pittsburgh Chapter Honor Award, Pittsburgh, PA 2002-2007 Board of Directors, Founder’s Chair, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh, PA 2001 Artist in Residence, Artist Image Resource, Pittsburgh, PA 1991 Masterworks Fellowship, Creative Glass Center of America, Millville, NJ 1990 Artist Fellowship Pennsylvania Council on the Arts 1988 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Annual Exhibition, Jurors’ Award Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA 1986 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Annual Exhibition, Jurors’ Award Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA 1985 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Annual Exhibition, Jurors’ Award Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA 1983 Artist Fellowship Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Wabash College Purchase Award, Glass of ‘83 1981 Artist Fellowship Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Annual Exhibition, Sculpture Award Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA

UNIQUE PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS 2007 Set Design, Sound of A Voice, Philip Glass Opera, Pittsburgh Opera Theater, Pittsburgh, PA 1991-01 Co Founder, The Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh, PA 1991 Art Director, Public Arts Project, Carnegie, PA

SELECTED COMMISSIONS 2008 Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA American Eagle Headquarters, Pittsburgh, PA Air Products, Allentown, PA 2002 Public Art, City of Pittsburgh, Troy Hill, PA 2001 Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Headquarters, Harrisburg, PA 1994 Port Authority Light Rail Transit Station, Pittsburgh, PA 1993 Governors Awards for Excellence, Harrisburg, PA 1991 Penn Center West, Pittsburgh, PA

SELECTED COLLECTIONS Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA American Art Museum, Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH Westmoreland Museum of Art, Greensburg, PA Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA Peat Marwick, Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh National Bank, Pittsburgh, PA

PUBLICATIONS 2012 John Drury, Review, Glass Magazine, Spring Issue 2013, Kim Foster Gallery, NY 2010 A Decade and Change, Borelli Edwards Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, 100 Year Anniversary, Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, PA 2009 Kristina Olson, A Perestroika of Form, Perestroika (n) Restructuring: The Glass Sculpture of Kathleen Mulcahy, Ron Desmett and Martin Prekop, Selby Gallery, Ringling College of Art and Design, Sarasota, Fl 2008 Susanne Frantz Glass Art Society Journal, Pittsburgh, PA Ron Desmett Making Sense of Place, Glass Art Society Journal Geoffey W. Melada, Together 24/7, Pittsburgh Magazine, February Paul Krainak, GLASSNOST Exhibition Catalog Essay, Pittsburgh, PA 2007 John Drury, Review, Lidded Trunk Vessels, hpgrp gallery, NYC, Urban Glass Quarterly, Issue 107, NY Gallery Section, American Craft. June-July John Altodorfer, Pittsburgh Glass, Carnegie Magazine. Summer Kristina Olson, Truth/ Beauty Exhibition Review. Sculpture Magazine Burkhardt Reiter, Opera Theater Deftly Fuses Elements in ‘Sound of Voice’, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 28 Mary Thomas, Glassnost CMU gallery represents enlightened ideas. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 27 Kurt Shaw, CMU exhibit brings ‘transparency’ to art. Pittsburgh Tribune Review, June 17 Ron Todt, Exhibitions look through the ‘glass city’, Buffalo News, April 8 Mark Kanny, Opera Theater mixes eras, cultures in ‘Voice’…. Pittsburgh Tribune Review. April 28 2006 Kurt Shaw, Glass artists celebrate return to studio. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 3 Gregory M Knepp, Glass Stations, Pittsburgh City Paper, July 19 Mary Thomas, Dreams are captured under glass in ‘Truth/Beauty….’ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 24 Michael O’Sullivan, A Show Full of Ideas, Washington Post, January 13 2005 Barry Hannegan, Chandeliers Melt into Fresh and Fragile Shapes. December 21, Best of Exhibitions, Top Ten. Pittsburgh Post Gazette. December 29 Honorable Mention, Best of Year, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, December 29 Mary Thomas, Region’s artists mount an excellent exhibition. Pittsburgh Post Gazette, May 18 2003 Frantz, Susanne K. 20/20 Vision, Museum of American Glass at Wheaton Village, NJ 2000 Graham Shearing, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art Launches a Survey, Feb 20, 2000 Thomas, Mary. Historic, modern glassworks sparkle in show.... April 8 1996 Shearing, Graham. ‘His + Hers + ours’ a treat in a loft. Tribune Review September 27 Mary Thomas, Mystery, eye catching images prevail in AAP Gallery exhibit…. Pittsburgh Post Gazette, September 16 Mary Thomas, Local trio’s exhibit mixes playful, serious…. Pittsburgh Post Gazette, April 18 1990 Bill Homisak, The Smashing Glass of Mulcahy, Desmett, Greensburg Tribune-Review