Glass in Bloom: An Ikebana Exhibition

March 19 - April 6, 2025

Exhibition Overview

Ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging. Unlike Western floral design, which focuses on fullness and color, ikebana follows a more minimalist approach, using line, space, and asymmetry to create a sense of movement and natural beauty. Rooted in Zen philosophy, it often incorporates branches, leaves, and even empty space to evoke a deeper connection to nature.

Museum of Glass has collaborated with Ikebana International Chapters from Seattle and Tacoma-Olympia to select a group of glass objects from the Museum’s Permanent Collection that will serve to inspire the ikebana artists as they compose their floral arrangements on display in the Museum’s Grand Hall.

These artworks served as inspirational starting points for floral arrangements displayed at a spring event at Museum of Glass on March 22 & 23, 2025, celebrating the evolution of ikebana as a contemporary art form.

Artists Featured:

Clare Belfrage, Paul Cunningham, Matthew Curtis, Gabe Feenan, John Kiley, Dominick Labino, Harvey K. Littleton, Benjamin Moore, Jay Musler, Mark Peiser, Eric Rubinstein, Ethan Stern, Alex Stisser, Bertil Vallien, Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen, Toots Zynsky

About Ikebana International

Ikebana International (I.I.) is a worldwide, nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and appreciation of ikebana. The organization was founded in 1956 by the late Ellen Gordon Allen whose dream was to create an association uniting the people of the world through their mutual love of nature and enjoyment of ikebana. Today, that dream has spread to over 40 countries/areas. The motto of the association is “Friendship through Flowers” and any person or organization accepting that objective is welcome to join us as a member of Ikebana International. I. I. does not teach or endorse any single type of ikebana. It is an association that encompasses many different schools.

The members are people from various parts of the world who enjoy and practice ikebana and have interests in other traditional Japanese art forms. Some schools stress classical styles; others focus on free style, and some a blend of both. Our members gain the opportunity to learn about ikebana of many different schools – their inspirations, styles, philosophy, history, and techniques – We benefit from those interactions through meetings, demonstrations, exhibitions and other events.

Another unique feature of Ikebana International is that the organization was founded by and continues to be administered almost entirely by volunteers.

Learn more about Ikebana International Seattle Chapter 19
Learn more about Ikebana International Tacoma-Olympia Chapter 147

Featured Images

Image Credits

1. Ethan Stern (American, born 1978). Aquaman's Metronome, 2011. Blown and wheel-cut glass; 11 × 8 × 2 in. Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington, gift of Loretta Macha, beloved docent. Photo by Russell Johnson.

2. Harvey K. Littleton (American, 1922 – 2013). Witch of Agnesi II, 1980. Barium/potash glass with multiple cased overlays of Kugler colors: ruby, red, blue, opal white, white center line; 13 1/4 × 5 5/8 × 2 5/8 in. Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington, gift of Dr. Giraud V. Foster. Photo courtesy of Maurine Littleton Gallery.

Exhibition Credit

Curated by Ikebana International Seattle Chapter 19 and Tacoma-Olympia Chapter 147. Organized by Museum of Glass in collaboration with Ikebana International Seattle Chapter 19 and Tacoma-Olympia Chapter 147.