projects.
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Joseph Ivacic’s current body of work Structural Integrity is influenced by strength, fear of the unknown, and urban decay. Considered rigid, historically valuable, and beautifully fragile, a gather of glass is blown, cast, fused, sculpted, and slumped into a sculptural narrative, questioning the participants mindset; a paradigm shift.
Inspired by the ebb and flow of Chicago’s urban environment, Joseph uses the historical iconography of its famed architecture to guide the styling of the bridge structures in his work - a feeling of connection and support. Specific themes include: The perception of Chicago through media. Political events and the reactions felt throughout the city. The exploration of emotions, movement, and discovery, through the innocent lens of a child.
All elements are created in glass* - The cans of spray paint draw parallels, positive and negative, between spray paint as art and as one of the oldest forms of social communication while layers of vibrant colors and text provoke further examination of the subtle details.
*Grass is Greener is mixed media sculpture representing a found object wall, similar to the exterior of a shanty. Apart is the opposite of together. A physical wall does not connect, but divides and defines. Joseph also explores the use of walls in society, and the fears, perceptions, and misconceptions it represents.
about.
Joseph Ivacic is a Chicago based artist who believes in pushing the boundaries of how glass is used in contemporary art. In 2018, Ferd Hampson of Habatat Galleries declared Joseph to be a "Top Ten Trend in Contemporary Glass" for his recent street inspired work - where all elements are glass, including the labels on the cans.
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contact.
p. 312.505.5336
CV
Joseph P. Ivacic/PARADIGM SHIFT
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Gallery Representation
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Habatat Galleries, Royal Oaks MI
K Allen Galleries, Sister Bay WI
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Museum Exhibitions
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2022
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Midwestern Biennial, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford IL
Fired Up: Glass Today, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT
Midwest Invitational, Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque, IA
2021​
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Graphic Content!, National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, PA
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2019
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Summer of Glass, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne IN
Divergent Materiality: Contemporary Glass Art, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale AZ
2018​
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Summer of Glass, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne IN
10 Trends, Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg FL
2017​​
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Narratives in Glass by Echt Gallery, Highland Park Art Center, Highland Park IL
Summer of Glass, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne IN
Treachery of Images: A Glass Art Exhibition, National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia PA
2006​​
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Midwestern Group show, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, IL​​
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Shows
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2024
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Safe Spaces, Artlink Gallery, Fort Wayne IN
Into Action 2024!, Taskforce in association with the DNC, Chicago IL
International Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oaks MI
2023
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Vocabulary, Wakeley Gallery at Illinois Wesleyan, Bloomington Il
International Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oaks MI
2022
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Professional Vacation, Creative Exploration (Solo), Habatat (NGG), Royal Oaks MI
International Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oaks MI
2021
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50th Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oaks MI
Coming Together (Solo), Habatat (NGG) Galleries, Royal Oaks MI
49th Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak MI
2020
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Click It!, WGS Gallery, Washington D.C.
48th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak MI
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2019
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Fall Group Show - Echt Gallery, Chicago IL
Prime Space Chicago Group Show - Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak MI
Group Show for AACG - K. Allen Gallery, Appleton WI
Art Santa Fe - Travelogues Galleries, Santa Fe NM
“Summer of Glass” Fort Wayne Museum of Art - Fort Wayne IN
Divergent Materiality: Contemporary Glass Art - Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale AZ
Pop and Lock - Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak MI
47th International Glass Invitational - Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak MI
Las Vegas Modernism -Travelogues Galleries, Santa Fe NM
Art Palm Springs - Travelogues Galleries, Palm Springs CA
LA Art Show Travelogues Galleries, Los Angeles CA
Great Glass Getaway - Habatat Galleries, St. Petersburg FL
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2018
SCOPE - Habatat Galleries, Miami FL
SOFA EXPO - K. Allen Gallery, Chicago IL
“Street Kraft” - Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak MI
“Summer of Glass” - Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne IN
Art Santa Fe - Travelogues Gallery, Santa Fe NM
“Some Like It Hot” - Morgan Contemporary Glass, Pittsburgh PA
46th International Glass Invitational - Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak MI
TeaPots! - Morgan Contemporary Glass, Pittsburgh PA
10 Trends - Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg FL
Art Palm Springs - Travelogues Gallery, Palm Springs CA
10 Trends - Habatat Gallery, Ringling Museum, Sarasota FL
2017
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FORM Expo - Hive Contemporary, Miami FL
Group Show - Echt Gallery, Chicago IL
SOFA Expo - K. Allen Gallery, Chicago IL
The Great Glass Escape - K. Allen Gallery, Sister Bay WI
Echt Galleries: Narratives in Glass - Highland Park Art Center, Highland Park IL
“Summer of Glass” - Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne IN
NEXT: 45th International Annual Glass Invitational - Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak MI
Treachery of Images: A Glass Art Exhibition - National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia PA
Art Palm Beach - K. Allen Gallery, West Palm Beach FL
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2016
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SOFA Expo - K. Allen Gallery, Chicago Il
Great Glass Escape - K. Allen Gallery, Sister Bay WI
Urban Landscapes - K. Allen Gallery, Sister Bay WI
Art Santa Fe - Irazoqui Gallery, Santa Fe NM
Collective Show - Irazoqui Gallery, Miami FL
Art Boca Raton - Irazoqui Gallery, Boca Raton FL
Art Palm Beach - K. Allen Gallery, Palm Beach FL
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2015
SOFA EXPO - K. Allen Gallery, Chicago IL
Great Glass Escape - K. Allen Gallery, Sister Bay WI
Art Palm Beach - K. Allen Gallery, Palm Beach FL
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2014
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Transit, Group Show - Vertical Gallery, Chicago Il
Glass Artist Society Group Show - Chicago Hot Glass, Chicago Il
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2013
Group Show - Ignite, Chicago Il
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2011
Group Show - Gruen Gallery, Chicago Il
Art Prize - Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
“The Collective” - David Weinberg Gallery Chicago, IL
2010
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Art Loop Open - Awarded 3rd place of 200 contestants Chicago, IL
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2008
“Things Left Behind”, Solo Show - Haus Gallery Chicago, IL
“Glass ?”, Group Artist Show - Lotus Keep Gallery Chicago, IL
2007
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SOFA EXPO - Rosenthal Gallery, Chicago IL
Group Artist Show - Golan Liebermann Gallery, Rockford, IL
2006
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Group Artist Show - G. C. Lucas Gallery, Indianapolis, IN
“Scratching the Surface” - Kraft Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL
“2006 Rockford Midwestern” - Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, IL
“Reflections” - Underground Studio, Rockford, IL
2005
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“Three Degrees of Separation” - Acme Art Works, Chicago, IL
2004
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“Security” Solo Show - Making Glass, Highland Park, IL
“Five” - North Lakeside Cultural Center, Chicago, IL​​
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Lectures
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2024
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Art Panel as moderator and curator for Craft Invitational at DUMA Dubuque, IA
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2022
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Fired Up: Glass Today, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT
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2021
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Coming Together, Habatat (NGG) Galleries, Royal Oaks MI
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2018
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Bridging the Gap, Ringling College of Art and Design, Sarasota FL
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2017
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Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass, Santa Fe NM
Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass, Scottsdale, AZ
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Residencies​
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2019
Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts, Lake Worth FL
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2014
Rosenberg Institute for Passionate and Emerging Artist at the Salem State University, Salem, MA
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Grants and Awards
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2024
Curator for Craft Invitational at the Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque IA
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2021
Democracy Reimagined, Mozaik Philanthropy, Los Angeles CA
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2018
Contemporary Artist Award, Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass
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2011
Top 10 Artists, Art Prize, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids MI
Top 3 Artists, Art Loop Open, Chicago IL
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Corporate and Private Collections
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200 S. Wacker, lobby, Chicago Il
Rush Hospital, Hospice wing, Chicago Il
L. Lieberman, Highland Park Il
L. Brodson, Highland Park Il
L. Sibley, Chicago Il
R. Starr, Winnetka Il
Invenergy, Chicago Il
M. Polsky, Chicago Il
P. Johannson, Rockford Il
C. Remer, Winnebago Il
M. Babb, Rockford Il
K. Dindial, Chelsea NY
M. Wassell, Stone Ridge NY
J. Slomsky, Gramercy NY
U. Udoiwod-Wu, Brooklyn NY
J. Urow, Reston VA
L. Greene, Dallas TX
J. Goldberg, Louisville KY
R. Graebner, Madison WI
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Education
College
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B.F.A. University of Illinois at Champaign, Urbana 2000
Studied under William Carlson, Jose Chardiet, Kathrine Gray, Greg Fidler, Brent Cole, Paul Nelson, and Robert Blakely
Classes
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Glass Sculpting with Pino Signoretto 2009
Large Sculpture with John Miller, Pilchuck 2007
Traditional Forms by Matt Urban, Making Glass 2005
Cane and Murini Pickups by Matt Urban, Making Glass 2005
Venetian Goblets by Matt Urban, Making Glass 2005
Murini Pickups by John Miller, Chicago Hot Glass 2004
Goblets and Venetian Forms by Elio Quarisi, Chicago Hot Glass 2003