From 1993 to 1999 the glass artist Oliver Lesso studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia, were his creations were already attracting the attention of the media and his peers. Born in Bratislava in 1973 and at the young age of 26 Oliver received the highest honor (the IAA Rector’s Award) at his graduation for his remarkable achievements and contribution towards contemporary glass creation.

The main principles of his glass art are based upon the glass’ optical qualities, light reflexes and the significant relationship arisen between the internal and external space. The form of the glass sculptures arrives from the geometric line, the nature and its processes inspire it. His passion for the glass medium is on an equal footing with the classic sculptural materials. Oliver has as profound an esteem for glass as the classicists had for bronze, stone, marble or wood.

The genius and expertise that goes into making Oliver’s glass sculptures, coupled with a deep understanding of the glass’ specific properties, explore the communicative power that it has to us. Most notable are his highly transparent solids, each taking many months of hand grinding and polishing, which pay particular emphasis to internal structures. These seemingly tangible structures, with their delicate icy, frosted honeycomb arrangement within, are all that is visible to the eye; their purified clarity seemingly contradicting the overall solidity of his minimalist pieces.