In earlier works McElheny played with notions of history and fiction.[4] Examples of this are works that recreate Renaissance glass objects pictured in
Renaissance paintings[5] and modern (but lost) glass objects from documentary photographs (such as works by
Adolf Loos).[6] He draws from a range of disciplines like architecture, physics, and literature, among others, and he works in a variety of media.[7]
McElheny has mentioned the influence of the writings of
Jorge Luis Borges in his work.[8] His work has also been influenced by the work of the American abstract artist
Donald Judd.[9]
McElheny has also expressed interest in glassblowing as part of an
oral tradition handed down generation to generation.[citation needed] He has used the
infinity mirror visual effect in his explorations of apparently infinite space. His work also sometimes deals with issues of
museological displays.[10]
One of the artist's ongoing projects is "An End to Modernity" (2005), commissioned by the
Wexner Center for the Arts at
Ohio State University. The piece is a twelve-foot-wide by ten-foot-high chandelier of chrome and transparent glass modeled on the 1960s
Lobmeyr design for the chandeliers found in
Lincoln Center, and evoking as well the
Big Bang theory.[11] "The End of the Dark Ages," again inspired by the
Metropolitan Opera House chandeliers and informed by logarithmic equations devised by the cosmologist
David H. Weinberg[12] was shown in New York City in 2008. Later that year, the series culminated in a massive installation titled "Island Universe" at
White Cube in London[13] and in Madrid.[14] In 2019 the installation was exhibited at
Stanford University's
Cantor Center for the Arts.[15]
Exhibitions
Solo exhibitions
1990 – Jägarens Glasmuseet (The Hunter's Glass Museum), Arnescruv, Sweden,
1993 – originals, fakes, reproductions, William Traver Gallery, Seattle
1994 – Authentic History, Robert Lehman Gallery, Brooklyn, New York
1995 – Stephen Friedman Gallery, London
1995 – Installation with Ancient Roman Glass, Ancient Mediterranean and Egypt Gallery,
Seattle Art Museum, Seattle,
1995 – Donald Young Gallery, Seattle
1996 – Barbara Kraków Gallery, Boston
1997 -Non-Decorative Beautiful Objects, AC Project Room, New York
1997 – Three Alter Egos, Donald Young Gallery, Seattle
1999 – The Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle[16]
1999 – The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
2000 – Christian Dior, Jorges Luis Borges, Adolf Loos, Donald Young Gallery, Chicago and Brent Sikkema, New York
In earlier works McElheny played with notions of history and fiction.[4] Examples of this are works that recreate Renaissance glass objects pictured in
Renaissance paintings[5] and modern (but lost) glass objects from documentary photographs (such as works by
Adolf Loos).[6] He draws from a range of disciplines like architecture, physics, and literature, among others, and he works in a variety of media.[7]
McElheny has mentioned the influence of the writings of
Jorge Luis Borges in his work.[8] His work has also been influenced by the work of the American abstract artist
Donald Judd.[9]
McElheny has also expressed interest in glassblowing as part of an
oral tradition handed down generation to generation.[citation needed] He has used the
infinity mirror visual effect in his explorations of apparently infinite space. His work also sometimes deals with issues of
museological displays.[10]
One of the artist's ongoing projects is "An End to Modernity" (2005), commissioned by the
Wexner Center for the Arts at
Ohio State University. The piece is a twelve-foot-wide by ten-foot-high chandelier of chrome and transparent glass modeled on the 1960s
Lobmeyr design for the chandeliers found in
Lincoln Center, and evoking as well the
Big Bang theory.[11] "The End of the Dark Ages," again inspired by the
Metropolitan Opera House chandeliers and informed by logarithmic equations devised by the cosmologist
David H. Weinberg[12] was shown in New York City in 2008. Later that year, the series culminated in a massive installation titled "Island Universe" at
White Cube in London[13] and in Madrid.[14] In 2019 the installation was exhibited at
Stanford University's
Cantor Center for the Arts.[15]
Exhibitions
Solo exhibitions
1990 – Jägarens Glasmuseet (The Hunter's Glass Museum), Arnescruv, Sweden,
1993 – originals, fakes, reproductions, William Traver Gallery, Seattle
1994 – Authentic History, Robert Lehman Gallery, Brooklyn, New York
1995 – Stephen Friedman Gallery, London
1995 – Installation with Ancient Roman Glass, Ancient Mediterranean and Egypt Gallery,
Seattle Art Museum, Seattle,
1995 – Donald Young Gallery, Seattle
1996 – Barbara Kraków Gallery, Boston
1997 -Non-Decorative Beautiful Objects, AC Project Room, New York
1997 – Three Alter Egos, Donald Young Gallery, Seattle
1999 – The Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle[16]
1999 – The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
2000 – Christian Dior, Jorges Luis Borges, Adolf Loos, Donald Young Gallery, Chicago and Brent Sikkema, New York