About the Artist
adjunct faculty member at her alma mater, she has been a professional artist and art educator since 1980.
Winning regional awards for her paintings, Alice worked alternately in oils and stained glass for many years. In 2004, she attended a workshop in glass painting with Peter McGrain and was inspired to combine stained glass and glass painting. Her work developed and changed until she discovered the rich and vivid properties of fused glass. A most recent class with noted fused glass artist Roger Thomas in 2007 gave Alice Benvie Gebhart new ideas and inspiration. Alice’s experimentation with kiln-fired glass has grown into something that stands out from the norm.
Alice Benvie Gebhart’s artistic inspiration comes primarily from nature. She begins by taking photographs and sketching the scenery, emphasizing color and light in her compositions then making the translation to glass. She is fascinated with finding the interesting combination of elements and arranging them to create an artwork with vibrant, painterly glass. The inclusion of specialty glasses, metallics and black reusche paints add luster, detail and texture. Preliminary sketches, photos and written entries give insight into Alice’s artistic process and are included on the reverse side of each original wall piece.
Alice Benvie Gebhart is a member of Glass Art Society; International Guild of Glass Artists, National and New England Chapter; American Craft Council; Providence Art Club, Art League of Rhode Island and Newport Art Museum and Art Association. Educational foundation memberships include National Art Education Association (NAEA) and its Rhode Island chapter (RIAEA).
Her artwork can be found in private and public collections such as the collection of Congressman Patrick Kennedy and on display at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.
Alice Benvie Gebhart grew up in a family that valued her artistic talents and abilities. Her father, a prolific New England Impressionist artist, introduced her to the art of painting at a young age. She graduated from Rhode Island College in her native Rhode Island, with an undergraduate degree in art and a graduate degree in education. Working as a high school art teacher, cooperating teacher for Rhode Island School of Design and
Artist Statement
I grew up in a family where my artistic endeavors were supported. People said I inherited my father’s talent but what I believe I inherited was that drive that he had for the creative process and my chosen media is glass. As an artist I am most excited when I can find an interesting composition in my everyday surroundings and interpret that in glass using light and vibrant color. I marvel at the shape of a cast shadow on a roadside or the vibrancy of foliage at dusk and I use these elements as a way for the viewer to be guided through the piece. Kiln fired glass is the media that reveals this beauty to its utmost. It has been a lifelong ambition to merge the making of art and the teaching of art. My goal as an artist is to bring about a visual appreciation of the beauty in everyday surroundings in my work. I include sketches and written words on the back of my work as a way for the art patron to have a looking glass into my artistic thoughts and process. My goal as an artist and a teacher is to foster an appreciation for the visual arts.
I was an oil painter since the age of 13 and stained glass artist since 1990. A weekend workshop in 2004 inspired a self-taught exploration into kiln fired glass. That is where the love affair with fusing glass began! Continued education with fused glass artist Roger Thomas in 2007 opened my eyes to new possibilities. This start has led to various exhibitions and representation with galleries such as Brian Marki Fine Art in Portland, Oregon. Born, bred and educated in Rhode Island, I work as art educator and fused glass artist in my home state. Recent travel throughout Japan, Italy and Ireland has enhanced my artistic growth.
Recent accolades include Best of Show win at Art League of R.I. Open Exhibit, 2007 and Invitational Members’ Exhibition at South County Art Association. Professional memberships include GAS, IGGA and NAEA (National Association for Education in Art).
