Improvisations for Pittsburgh is an expansive, site-specific installation by Kathleen Mulcahy and Ron Desmett, located along the mezzanine level of Steel Plaza Station. Composed of five glass block wall segments, each section stands approximately eight feet high and ranges from twenty to sixty-seven feet in length. The work reflects the artists' deep sensitivity to material, light, and place, transforming the architectural environment of the station into a richly layered and immersive visual experience.

The glass blocks were set in custom-designed patterns developed by the artists. Behind them, backlit panels glow with coordinated fields of color and subtle lighting effects. These vibrant panels respond dynamically to both the station’s ambient light and the built-in neon elements, establishing a shifting interplay between surface and depth.

Many of the individual glass blocks were hand-pressed, patterned, and etched by the artists, creating a tactile, varied surface vocabulary. The etched imagery incorporates abstract references to Pittsburgh’s street grid, geography, and scenes from city life. Some patterns are as simple as a single etched line, while others form intricate grids—evoking a layered visual language that mirrors the city's structure and rhythm. These elements, brought to life through the dynamic interaction of light, color, and neon, offer a multidimensional experience that shifts with the viewer’s movement and perspective.

Glass artist and sculptor Kathleen Mulcahy and sculptor Ron Desmett were selected to create a site-specific installation for the mezzanine level of Steel Plaza Station in recognition of their exceptional ability to work creatively with glass, light, and color. As collaborators and individual artists, Mulcahy and Desmett were known for pushing the boundaries of material and form, creating works that are both technically innovative and emotionally resonant.

Mulcahy’s practice centered on the expressive potential of glass, using its translucency, texture, and interplay with light to evoke movement, memory, and atmosphere. Her refined craftsmanship and poetic sensibility made her one of the leading voices in contemporary glass art. Desmett, whose work spanned sculpture, painting, and glass, was known for his bold use of form and material, often exploring the relationship between nature and abstraction. His sculptural works conveyed a strong sense of presence and place, inviting viewers to experience familiar materials in unfamiliar ways.

Together, their collaborative approach to public art merged material innovation with a deep sensitivity to site and context. At Steel Plaza, their installation transforms the station’s mezzanine level into a contemplative space where commuters encounter art that reflects and refracts the urban environment around them.

Later, Ron and Kathleen went on to found the Pittsburgh Glass Center, a nonprofit institution dedicated to advancing the art of glass through education, experimentation, and community engagement. Their vision created a lasting platform for artists and audiences alike, shaping Pittsburgh into a nationally recognized hub for contemporary glass art.

Ron Desmett (1948 - 2016)

Kathleen Mulcahy Website: https://www.kathleenmulcahy.com/