About Me

 


Richard La LondeI was born in 1950, grew up in Vancouver, Washington and in 1972, I graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Geology where by I immediately went into art. In the beginning, along with my art, I did many different jobs including commercial fishing in Alaska, becoming a journeyman welder, building houses, creating stained glass windows, forging ornamental iron, blowing glass, and building kilns.I began fusing glass in an electric kiln in 1981. I use glass that is handmade by Bullseye Glass Company, in Portland, Oregon. In the early 1980’s they created the first complete color range of glass that was compatible and when fused together it didn’t crack apart. I was one of the initial artists to work with this glass as it became available, and pioneered new techniques. I taught fusing for Bullseye in glass facilities around the United States and in Canada from 1983 – 1988. In 1985 I taught at the Pilchuck Glass School.Those early days were about developing techniques and finding out what I could do with the glass. After a few years I began to translate my ideas into the pictorial murals and handkerchief vessels that I am known for today. In 1984 the Corning Museum of Glass purchased one of my early vessels for its collection and I also created my first public fused glass mural for the Washington State Arts Commission, 5′ high X 25′ long. In the Seattle area, you may have seen my International Arrivals Gateway at the SeaTac airport. Today I live on Whidbey Island where  I continue sharing my glass knowledge and art experience through special workshops, lectures, webinars and articles. I continue to exhibit in galleries and exhibitions. I am now taking the time to explore a variety of artistic expressions, including sculpture, painting, writing and fusing recycled glass.   

SELECTED MUSEUMS

The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York
Notojima Glass Art Museum, Notojima, Japan
Museum Boymans-van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Glasmuseum, Ebeltoft, Denmark
Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI
Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
Albany Museum of Art, Albany, GA.
Charles A. Wustum Museum, Racine, WI

PUBLIC ART & COMMISSIONS

2011 Spanaway Elementary School, Washington State Arts Commission
Spanaway, WA fused glass mural 40″ x 25′ long
2007 Mount View Elementary School, Washington State Arts Commission
White Center, WA fused glass triptych 7′ x 16′
2005 Evergreen Elementary, Washington State Arts Commission
Shelton, WA 3 fused glass murals 64″ x 60″ each
2004 Good Samaritan Hospital
Puyallup, WA fused glass triptych 40″ x 70″
2003 Washington State Public Health Laboratory, WA State Arts Commission
Shoreline, WA 8 fused glass panels 26″ x 22″ and a triptych 40″ x 70″
2002 Auburn Public Library, Friends of the Library Commission
Auburn, WA fused glass and stainless steel wall piece 6′ x 12′
2001 Edgemont Junior High School
Edgewood, WA fused glass mural 2′ x 8′
2000 Ptarmigan Ridge Elementary, Washington State Arts Commission
Orting, WA fused glass mural, 9′ x 8′
1999 Tacoma / Pierce County Court House, Pierce County Arts Commission
9th & Yakima Parking Annex, (collaboration with artist Michael Dupille)
Tacoma, WA exterior fused glass murals, 5′ x 14′, 5′ x 12′, & 3′ x 6′
1997 Frontier Junior High, Washington State Arts Commission
Graham, WA fused glass mural, (4) panels 52″ x 46″ each
1996 Dzantiki Heeni Middle School, Alaska Percent for Arts Commission
Juneau, AK fused glass mural, 6′ x 10′
1994 Evanston Public Library
Evanston, IL fused glass mural, 43″ x 66″
1992 SeaTac International Airport, Port of Seattle Commission
SeaTac, WA fused glass gateway, 3 panels 13′ x 2′
1992 Evergreen Hospital Lobby
Kirkland, WA fused glass mural, 5′ x 7′
1989 Pierce County Library, Friends of the Library Commission
Parkland, WA fused glass mural, 7′ x 6′
1984 Black Lake Elementary, Washington State Arts Commission
Tumwater, WA fused glass mural, 23′ x 5′

AUTHOR

Richard La Londe: Fused Glass Art and Technique
Ozone Press, Freeland, WA 224 pages hardback 2006

Richard La Londe and Friends: Fused Glass, Vitreous Enamels & Other Techniques Book II Ozone Press, Freeland, WA 240 pages hardback 2009

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2004 Glass Gallery, Bethesda, MD
2000 Museo Gallery, Langley, WA
1999 Glass Gallery, Bethesda, MD
1995 Marx Gallery, Chicago, Il
1994 Gallery Mack, Seattle, WA
1993 Vespermann Glass Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1992 Marx Gallery, Chicago, IL
1991 The Glass Gallery, Bethesda, MD
1990 Gallery Mack, Seattle, WA
1990 Vespermann Glass Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1989 Art Options, Santa Monica, CA
1988 The Glass Gallery, Bethesda, MD
1987 The Glass Art Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1986 The Glass Gallery, Bethesda, MD
1985 Edith Gottschalk, SM Gallerie, Frankfurt, Germany
1984 Gallery Mack, Seattle, WA