Whether she is in the studio with an occasional stray dragonfly, gardening, walking by the river, or traveling, it is in the observation of the intricacies of nature and her surroundings that inspires glass artist Melanie Leppla.
When something of particular interest strikes the artist, she asks herself the simple question “what if?” and tries to discern how the qualities of the glass would work with the idea. By allowing herself the artistic liberty to try something new based on her own caprice, she often finds herself engaged in new and exciting series of work.
Melanie Leppla has been working professionally with glass since graduating from Rochester Institute of Technology with a BFA in 1986. Her professional career includes shows internationally as well as across the United States. Honors include two fellowship grants from the Creative Glass Center of America and a fellowship grant from the New Jersey Counsel for the Arts. Her work is included in the Museum of American Craft and the Museum of American Glass as well as numerous important private collections.—Artful Home
