William Morris

American, born 1957

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Zande Man, 2001

• On View

Blown glass, steel stand

Dimensions: 26 × 16 × 16 in. (66 × 40.6 × 40.6 cm)

Courtesy of the Isabel Foundation, L2017.120

William Morris transforms glass to mimic natural materials found in African art, such as the glass hairpins and earring made to look like ivory. The title of this work also suggests a connection to the central African people called the Zande. The face bears line designs that look like scarification, a practice in some African cultures, that cuts or brands the skin to achieve a permanent bodily transformation. Inspired by African and Native American cultures, Morris creates works of his own imagining, demonstrating the wide range of possibilities of glass sculpture.

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