AACG - Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass

Lee Riley

Artist Statement:

My work starts as a mental fusion of nature’s vast minerals and all varieties and phases of glass. Conceptually these materials are worked to reflect hope, healing, and the underpinning thought that “Life is a gift!” While this remains my primary aesthetic, I continue to explore other mediums.

I have spent the majority of my life learning and practicing my trade as a scientist and cancer surgeon. However, my training left me unprepared for the emotional weight associated with healing cancer patients. To become the physician I wanted to be, I needed to come to work every day fully recharged. Imagine sitting in front of a young mother, looking her in the eye, and saying “you have cancer.” My Art is about what happens next.

About Lee Riley

Working with glass fascinates Lee Riley: “When the glass is molten it can be blown like gum, when warm it can be bent like putty, and when cold, sculpted like marble.” Riley grew up in Houston, Texas, where his grandmother, a well-known artist, instilled in him a passion for the arts. Unfortunately, she lost a daughter at the age of nine to cancer. This event traumatized both his grandmother and his mother and ultimately led him to pursue a career as a cancer researcher and surgeon. His advanced medical training prepared him for the technical portion of his profession, but not the emotional demands of his field. 

Eventually, Riley found working with glass fulfilled his needs; not only was he recharged, but he quickly became passionate about glass art. With no formal training in glass or art, Riley sought classes and workshops starting at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem, PA, where he now lives. It was his cold glass workshop with Martin Rosol at the Corning Museum of Glass Studio where he envisioned combining his interest in minerals with his glasswork. There were no instructors for this, but with his background as a chemistry major, perseverance, and luck, he was able to succeed. His first gallery show was a successful solo event with regional artists, physicians, and patients attending, and the majority of his work was sold. With growing confidence in his skillset and creativity, he began expanding his work to include other mediums, but almost always with glass.

In addition to “healing thyself,” Riley began incorporating art into his medical practice. Initially, he donated his art to support numerous cancer fundraising events. Now he works with a resident artist at his medical office to help patients create glass pendants during their treatments. 

Acknowledgment of Gallery:
We are grateful to Globe Fine Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico, for providing the Artist of the Month.