The Glass Wing at Fort Wayne Museum of Art

Downtown Fort Wayne offers several attractions within walking distance. Whether you stay in a downtown hotel or park your car and huff it, you can find treasures like the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.

One area I was especially interested in was the Glass Wing. This permanent exhibit showcases a selection of almost 400 glass pieces of glass art.

The sculptures, wall hangings, and special exhibits are mesmerizing in their glittering color and intricacies.

While walking room to room, I learned about Studio Glass’s development from the mid-20th century to today. Glass pioneers such as Harvey Littleton, Erwin Eisch, and Dale Chihuly are featured, as well as second-wave and contemporary masters, including Martin Blank, Therman Statom, Marta Klonowska, Paul Stankard, and Toots Zynsky.

The Art Deco period (c.1910-1940) is also featured as a special exhibit until August 6, 2023.

A placard with the display says that simplified forms and captivating repeating surface treatments were revolutionary. Inspired by other burgeoning modern art movements, including Cubism and Fauvism, the philosophy behind this style aims to introduce high-quality design to a broader market. The lasting influence of this period translates into today’s Studio Glass movement in style and technique.

For decades, glass artist and collector David Huchthausen collected with a keen and practiced eye. The quality and depth of his Art Deco collection would take a lot of work to replicate. There are more than 120 Art Deco glass works, which include several major studios and artists of the period, including René Lalique, Steuben Glass Works, Daum Nancy, and Pierre D’Avesn, along with the museum’s permanent collection of contemporary glass.

The museum also includes nearly 5,000 American paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, and photographs. The collection is a diverse reflection of American history. The collection consists of art created after 1850.