David Gutierrez has been awarded the 2026 Ron Desmett Memorial Award for Imagination with Glass, presented by Pittsburgh Glass Center. The award recognizes artists whose work embodies creative risk-taking, curiosity and an unconventional approach to glass. The winner receives $3,000 in studio time and an equal amount as a monetary award.
Named in honor of the late Ron Desmett, a cofounder of Pittsburgh Glass Center and an influential glass artist, the award celebrates artists who push beyond convention to create unique and imaginative work that are either entirely glass or incorporates glass into a broader artistic practice.
Based in Los Angeles, Gutierrez creates sculptural works exploring existentialism, death, creation, persistence and destiny. His visual language draws from dark and playful anime and cartoon aesthetics, while incorporating elements of futuristic science fiction and fantasy.
Working with blown and hot-sculpted glass alongside fabricated metal and wood, Gutierrez creates immersive forms that balance elegance with an underlying sense of eeriness. Gutierrez will be displaying these artistic sensibilities at his residency at the Pittsburgh Glass Center, where he proposed to create five elemental animals that explore the beauty and power of nature through glass, color and light. Each playful, anime-inspired sculpture will incorporate distinct glass techniques and, when activated with charged plasma, transform into an interactive spectacle. Unique gas pairings will evoke natural forces such as lightning, clouds, fire and rushing water. The project brings together Gutierrez’s interest in playful forms, transformation and the otherworldly possibilities of glass.
“Glassblowing has and continues to be a transformative experience in my life,” Gutierrez says. His devotion to the medium has led him to continually challenge himself to create work that reflects both his inspirations and his appreciation for the role glassblowing has played in his life.
Gutierrez earned a Bachelor of Fine Art with a concentration in Glass Art from California State University, Fullerton. He first encountered glass in 2014, an experience that would fundamentally change the direction of his life. During his time at Cal State Fullerton, he was given the opportunity to study with Jimmy Anderegg at Pilchuck Glass Schoolin 2015. The experience helped propel his development and gave him a clearer understanding of the dedication required to pursue a life in glass.
One of his most significant artistic influences has been fellow glass artist Kazuki Takizawa. In an interview with Shoutout LA, Gutierrez describes Takizawa as the most influential person in his life and his artistic hero. His draw to Takizawa's aesthetic definitely shows in his work with not just similarities in structural elements of the work but also an overlap in their commonly explored themes of persistence and existentialism.
Since graduating in 2018, Gutierrez has maintained an intensive schedule in the hot shop. He has worked as Takizawa's main assistant at KT Glassworks while also teaching glass on weekends. In addition, he has worked several days a week as a production glass assistant with Joe Cariati's team.
For the Ron Desmett award, Pittsburgh Glass Center awards an artist (or scholar) in one of four categories:
YOUTH: A student of high school age whose work embodies Desmett’s spirit and shows rare talent.
GLASS ARTIST: An artist beginning his or her professional life working with glass, whose work embodies Desmett’s spirit in a creative nature and who shows great promise.
NONGLASS ARTIST: An artist whose medium of choice may not be glass, but over his or her creative life has embodied the experiential and experimental qualities that Desmett valued.
WRITER: A writer who would use this award to focus on glass, with emphasis on craft media as sculpture exploring new thoughts as glass art matures. Critical thinking best exemplifies Desmett’s vision for communicating through art.
Applications for the 2027 award close on May 31st, and can be made through the Pittsburgh Glass Website