For world-renowned glassblowers, Andi Kovel and Justin Parker, form, function and fun go hand in hand. Since establishing Esque Studio in 1999, a name that nods to the acknowledgement of outside influences and inspirations, the pair have been cooking up decorative artworks that flirt with scale and fantasy, and that explore the juxtapositions of symbolism. Originally based in New York, where they sculpted renderings for artists like Kiki Smith and Robert Rauschenberg, the two now work out of Portland, Oregon, using wind-powered energy and recycled materials to shape their masterpieces. With an aim to distort everyday items typically thought of as gender-specific, and drawing on inspiration from objects of the past and near future, the duo hand-blows unique and thought-provoking pieces that they treat as modern heirlooms. Whether they're creating a life-size truck tire or fun-house-style mirror, Kovel's and Parker's vision is coherent and captivating. It's no wonder their quest for achieving authenticity in a world where slogans are a substitution for substance recently earned them recognition as one of today's most influential international designers in Time magazine's "Design 100."