Luke Jerram’s Virus Installation: E. Coli (2010)

The finest collectors in the world put a premium on exquisite Murano glass. Take a few minutes to see the new twist that’s on display at Columbus Circle at the Museum of Arts and Design in Glasstress New York, a show that’s a mix of installation, concept, and pedestal work.

Curator/entrepreneur Adriano Berengo paired the finest Venetian glassmakers with some of the world’s best contemporary artists (e.g. Vic Munoz, Thomas Schutte, the Starn twins) for an exhibition ranking at the top of fan favorites at the 2009 and 2011 Venice Biennales.

MAD is presenting the provocative show for a few more days. Luke Jerram’s Carroña crows-with-shatttered-chandelier installation is the most eye-catching, but there’s plenty to more to contemplate about how the Murano craftsmen made such exquisite fabrications of some pretty wild artistic notions (like Luke Jerram’s glass-blown virus reproductions.)

Javier Perez’s Carroña (2011) on display in Venice