In the dance between Constructivism, Cubism, and the very essence of materiality, my artistic journey unfolds. It's not just about creating sculptures; it's a personal dialogue with the material, an intimate conversation where every stroke, every manipulation, breathes life into a unique form.
My process is a holistic immersion, a symphony of charcoal sketches, clay models, and the transformative melding of glass. What sets my work apart is the profound connection I cultivate with the material as it undergoes its metamorphosis. It's not just about shaping the exterior; it's about predicting the interplay of light, color, and space within and around the form.
Glass, with its dual nature, fascinates me. It's not just a medium; it's a dynamic storyteller with multiple surfaces that playfully dance with the light. As the exterior is polished, the interior reciprocates, becoming a mirror that reflects and redirects light, creating a mesmerizing interplay of planes and surfaces.
My forms, born from simplified architectural components, decorative embellishments, geometry juxtaposed with nature, carry a non-referential scale, evoking a monumental feeling irrespective of their physical size. The architectural essence serves a dual purpose, insinuating scale while allowing for the exploration of negative space as a vital part of the composition.
The journey begins with swift sketches, capturing the raw energy of initial ideas. Whether retaining the freshness of these sketches or refining compositions through more formal drawings, my aim is to preserve the authenticity of the maker's marks. Each sculpture is a visual narrative, a passage for the viewer to embark on, discovering not just the exterior aesthetics but delving into the interior activation of space and shapes.
I aspire to create sculptures that transcend the ordinary—a contemplative pause amid the hustle of daily life. These pieces are crafted to invite meditation on beauty, a journey where each glance yields new discoveries. The play of light and movement within the form ensures that as the viewer interacts, the sculpture breathes, evolves, and remains a source of inspiration—a shared aesthetic journey between creator and collector. Each piece, a testament to the dynamic interplay between the viewer, the artwork, and the ever-shifting light that breathes life into form.
Biography
Chad Holliday received a BFA from Emporia State University, Kansas and an MFA in glass sculpture and metal fabrication/jewelry design from the Rochester Institute of Technology, New York. After completing his graduate work, Chad accepted an artist in residence at the Grand Crystal Museum in Taipei, Taiwan. During this residency Holliday collaborated with artists and art educators, working directly with their students in the studio and classroom.
In 2019, he was Visiting Assistant Professor of Glass at Hastings College, Hastings, Nebraska. From 2017-2019, Holliday was the Director of Studio Operations at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Art. Prior to this appointment, Chad had the tenure rank of Associate Professor and recognized with an endowed professorship at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. Holliday served as the Primary Investigator for all 3D Studios and the Director of the Creative Research Lab. Chad taught glass, sculpture, professional practices and three-dimensional design. During his tenure at WTAMU, Holliday was able to cultivate local patronage, creating the largest fundraising event for the College of Fine Arts and Humanities.
Holliday received a Fulbright Award for the academic year 2007-2008. Chad performed research and taught classes at The Secondary School of Glass Making - Kamenicky Senov, recognized as the oldest glass school in the world. Holliday worked with his longtime mentor and colleague Frantisek Janak to establish links between traditional methods of pedagogy with a contemporary approach. Upon completion, Holliday accepted a tenure track position at WTAMU. Later that year Chad was a featured as an emerging artist of the year in “American Style” magazine.
He has worked with Martin Blank as an assistant on the hot shop team and was the full-time cold sculptor, performing all of his cutting and polishing. Simultaneously, Holliday owned and operated third-hand - Glass Cutting & Polishing Tools, a small business distributing and promoting glass equipment from the Czech Republic, and worked as a consultant to artists and glass studios and continued teaching while performing consistent research.
From 2001-2003, Holliday was the Lead Hot Shop Technician for the Museum of Glass. Chad taught at Pratt Fine Arts Center and as an adjunct professor at the University of Washington, Tacoma. After leaving the Museum of Glass, he held the position of Glass Technician at Pratt Fine Art Center, in charge of all studio operations and curriculum. Chad’s artwork has been published in the New Glass Review. Holliday has been nominated for the Art, Craft Design Award from 2014-2018. His work was accepted for Ceramics and Glass Biennial - Haacht Belgium in 2021 and the International Glass Biennial of Bulgaria. He has had acquisition by multiple museums and collections including the International Glass Biennial of Bulgaria, The Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington and The Museum of Applied Arts and Museum Portenka, Prague, Czechia.