Elise Ordorica studied Art and Design at Alfred University, Alfred, NY., where she feel in love with glass. The process of working with this material captivated her immediately. Glass is an art form that captures pure color and light, and she began combining glass with metal to create sculptures that represented moments in time. In her third year, she was offered a semester abroad at the Edinburgh College of Art in Edinburgh, Scotland. This incredible experience taught Elise valuable perspectives on approaching materials, and thought processes around creating.
After graduating from Alfred in 2000, and working at the Pilchuck Glass School, Elise managed and directing one of the leading contemporary glass galleries; Chappell Gallery in Boston and New York. Introduced to the world of Japanese, Australian, and Cezch, Contemporary Glass, the possibilities with this amazing material seemed endless. Exposure to these art works and artists influenced Elise’s passion and inspired her to strive to create her own pieces. She began her line of one of a kind wearable glass pieces, that were and still are showcased at many galleries.
In the summer of 2002, after another few months working at Pilchuck , Elise moved to Santa Cruz, CA., and began working for Larry Selman in his glass gallery, L.H. Selman Ltd. Elise curated many shows to include local and emerging artists. She began taking metal-smithing classes at the Revere Academy in San Francisco, CA., sharpened her small metals techniques. These classes helped strengthen and develop her one of a kind wearable pieces.
In 2005, Elise met Dorothy Lenehan, protege to glass artist Narcissus Quagliata, and owner of Lenehan Glass, an architectural glass firm in Oakland, Ca. Elise became the studio manager and lead fabricator. Lenehan Architectural Glass creates one of a kind, doors, windows, countertops, fountains, public art pieces, and large scale private pieces. The most impressive, project that Elise contributed to is a piece in downtown San Francisco, CA which consists of 390 panels of glass, wrapping around three sides of the SOMAgrand building.
Elise currently teaches Fusing classes and works in the Hot Shop at the Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI) in San Jose, CA.
After graduating from Alfred in 2000, and working at the Pilchuck Glass School, Elise managed and directing one of the leading contemporary glass galleries; Chappell Gallery in Boston and New York. Introduced to the world of Japanese, Australian, and Cezch, Contemporary Glass, the possibilities with this amazing material seemed endless. Exposure to these art works and artists influenced Elise’s passion and inspired her to strive to create her own pieces. She began her line of one of a kind wearable glass pieces, that were and still are showcased at many galleries.
In the summer of 2002, after another few months working at Pilchuck , Elise moved to Santa Cruz, CA., and began working for Larry Selman in his glass gallery, L.H. Selman Ltd. Elise curated many shows to include local and emerging artists. She began taking metal-smithing classes at the Revere Academy in San Francisco, CA., sharpened her small metals techniques. These classes helped strengthen and develop her one of a kind wearable pieces.
In 2005, Elise met Dorothy Lenehan, protege to glass artist Narcissus Quagliata, and owner of Lenehan Glass, an architectural glass firm in Oakland, Ca. Elise became the studio manager and lead fabricator. Lenehan Architectural Glass creates one of a kind, doors, windows, countertops, fountains, public art pieces, and large scale private pieces. The most impressive, project that Elise contributed to is a piece in downtown San Francisco, CA which consists of 390 panels of glass, wrapping around three sides of the SOMAgrand building.
Elise currently teaches Fusing classes and works in the Hot Shop at the Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI) in San Jose, CA.
