Birds of a Feather: PNW Glass Takes Flight ♿
BARN (Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network) · 8890 Three Tree Lane NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Enjoy an exhibit showcasing glass art made at BARN, featuring established artists and makers of all ages!
Refract Seattle Glass Events
Glass art exhibitions, demonstrations, tours, and cultural events around Seattle.
Upcoming events
Hands-on in the Hot Shop: Autumn ♿
Seattle Glassblowing Studio · 2227 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121
Experience glassblowing with a hands-on activity. Create in the hot shop with the help of professional artists, choosing from special autumn shape options. Celebrating the 35th year of Seattle Glassblowing Studio. Paid reservations required.
Private Tour of The Boathouse ♿
The Boathouse is the private working studio and hotshop of artist Dale Chihuly. Inside, the space is representative of Chihuly’s design aesthetic, showcasing pieces from his iconic bodies of work as well as his personal collections of art and unique objects. It is also home to The Hotshop, where Chihuly and his team of glassblowers create works in glass for exhibitions and art installations at museums and gardens around the world. Located on the shores of Lake Union in Seattle, The Boathouse offers a singular behind-the-scenes look at the life and work of Chihuly. This is a free ticketed event. Registration will open here on Oct 5. Limited availability. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/private-tour-of-the-boathouse-930am-tickets-1993635384101?aff=oddtdtcreator
Skillcation: Learn to cut glass
Seymour Stained Glass · 5415 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
In 3 hours you will make your own 5-piece coaster plus cut pieces for another to assemble at home. And you will have learned basic glass cutting skills, including how to cut curves! Stained glass appliqué uses the same tools and skills you would use to make a stained glass window but is held together with glue and grout on a glass substrate (such as a glass patio table) rather than soldered together with lead. Instruction booklet, all supplies and tool use are included in the class fee. Bring your own eye protection or wear our goggles. Limit 4 students. Please pay in advance to reserve your spot. Contact me if you want to be on the waiting list. Special discount for Refract: $85 includes sales tax (That’s $76.89 plus tax. This class is usually $89 plus 10.55% sales tax) Ticket: https://seymourstainedglass.square.site/product/refract-learn-to-cut-glass/PXBEHTN6CNOTKUYAA35KMQLF?cs=true&cst=custom Artist Bio: Karen Seymour believes being able to confidently cut curves in glass is basic to doing almost any other work with glass. She has been teaching glass appliqué for over 25 years and has published a couple of books on the technique. The student handout for this class is the text of the beginning book.
Bainbridge Island – LUMINOUS! ♿
Bainbridge Arts & Crafts · 151 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island, 98110
This special exhibition celebrates light, reflection and translucence in the work of Northwest glass masters Robert Carlson, Steve Maslach, Trenton Quiocho, KeKe Cribbs, Gregory Lastrapes, and Alicia Lomne, and abstract paintings by Jeanne Toal. About the Artist: Robert Carlson Robert Carlson’s career in glass began in 1980 and spans some 40 years. During this time he worked and studied with such icons as Erwin Eisch, Libensky/Brychtova, Chihuly, Ulrica Hydman Vallien and Bertil Vallien, and Dan Daily. He developed the unique Break-away Sand Mold which allows him to combine the elements of sand-casting and glass blowing into one object. He is also known for his reverse painting techniques that transmit his archetypal imagery throughout the three dimensions of his sculptures. He has taught at the Pilchuck School, Pendland School of Crafts, Haystack Mt. School, Bild-Werk Frauenau, Cam Ocai Turkey, sat on the board of the American Craft Council, and was President of the Glass Art Society. Now a published author, his first book “TotIs” (2012) was followed by “Gita”, “TAO: A New Interpretation”, and “Phantom Horizons: Chuang Tau Plays Solitaire”. He lives and writes on Bainbridge Island. KEKE CRIBBS KeKe Cribbs was born in Colorado in 1951. She lived in Ireland, France, Corsica and New Mexico before making her home on Whidbey Island after attending Pilchuck Glass School in 1983. She has since taught at Pilchuck Glass School and the Penland School of Crafts, and in 1986 she started a Glass program at the Swain School of Design which later became SMU in South Dartmouth, MA. She has also taught workshops at TIGA in Toyama, Japan, and was invited to participate in the Stourbridge Glass Festival in 2019. In April 2026 the James Renwick Alliance is gave her an award for “Master of the Medium”. Her work has been collected internationally, including the Corning Glass Museum, NY, the L.A. County Museum, CA, the Racine Art Museum, WI, Tacoma Art Museum and Tacoma Glass Museum, WA, and the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Japan. GREGORY LASTRAPES Greg Lastrapes is a Seattle-based glass artist and curator. He holds a BFA in Glass and Ceramics and a BS in Art History from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University (2019). After graduating, he studied with Swedish Master Glassblower Micke Johansson. Lastrapes has since dedicated his practice to cultivating new approaches to Swedish glass techniques and creating exhibition opportunities that spotlight sincerity and expertise, particularly for early-career glassmakers. Lastrapes has exhibited work internationally and has taught Swedish-style glassblowing in studios across New York City, Boston, Providence, San Jose, and Seattle. ALICIA LOMNE Alicia Lomné is an artist living and working on Whidbey Island. Lomné has spent her career exploring and developing her own unique style of the kiln casting technique, pâte de verre. She is known for her explorations of a new hollow internal core for creating remarkably large-scale pâte de verre vessels. Lomné has exhibited her work nationally and has participated in shows with The Kentucky Museum of Art and Design, The Museum of American Glass, Figgie Art Museum, National Liberty Museum, Bergstrom-Mahler Museum, and The Muskegon Museum of Art. For several years, Lomné has enthusiastically shared her knowledge through teaching. She has taught at Pilchuck Glass School, Penland School of Crafts, Bullseye Glass, and The Studio, as well as in Denmark, Switzerland, and Australia. STEVEN MASLACH Steven Maslach began blowing glass in 1968 and opened his first studio in 1971. His work is characterized by the transmission, reflection and kinetic variations of pure colors within heavy cast artwork. He pioneered the use of dichroic filters in glass sculpture, starting in the early 1980s. His work evolved from blown pieces to crucible-cast large works created in his studio on Bainbridge Island. TRENTON QUIOCHO Trenton Quiocho is a Filipino-American, Tacoma,
Bainbridge Island – Pratt Fine Arts Center @ 50 ♿
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art · 550 Winslow Way E., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
PART OF HANDWORK 2026: Pratt Fine Arts Center, in Seattle’s Central District, has been a community arts hub for the past fifty years. Pratt was initially established by the City of Seattle — named for the civil rights leader Edwin T. Pratt, Executive Director of the Seattle Urban League — who was murdered in 1969. Pratt serves artists of all ages and abilities, year-round, with affordable classes and studios. It provides access to diverse media including glass; sculpture in metal, stone, wood, and mixed-media; jewelry art; paper and felt-making; and a variety of 2D media including drawing, painting, and printmaking. Featured artists include former and current students, instructors, board members, and staff.
Glass Blowing Lessons ♿
Blowing Sands Glass · 5805 14th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Hands-on lessons with an experienced glass-blowing instructor. Individuals or groups of up to 5. Please email or call for information about pricing and to schedule a time. Artist Bio: David Smith was introduced to the art of glass blowing in 1978 while studying for a degree in materials science: He was hooked. After graduation, he returned home to Seattle and started working full-time as a glass blower. Some travel let him get experience at a glass studio in Paris and a pottery workshop in Ireland. In 1992, he established his own studio/hot-shop in Ballard.
Modern Design & Glass at Design Within Reach ♿
Design Within Reach · 1918 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Explore both iconic & modern glass through the world of design; names such as Glas Italia, Helle Mardahl, Louis Poulsen, MESO, Sophie Lou Jacobsen, Tom Dixon, and more. Artist Bio: Helle Mardahl Studio operates at the intersection of art and functionality to create a dreamy universe of richly coloured glass designs of eccentric deviance. Influenced by nostalgic memories from childhood and iconic films such as Alice in Wonderland and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, the collection of glossy glass creates a conceptual candy universe of magic, dreams, and indulgence. Elevated lighting Louis Poulsen partnered with the famous Danish architect Poul Henningsen to elevate lighting to the realm of great design. The company still manufactures Henningsen’s iconic works like the Artichoke and Snowball pendants to the architect’s same exacting specifications. French-American designer Sophie Lou Jacobsen creates objects and furniture for everyday use, but with details designed to delight the user. Working mainly with colored borosilicate glass as her medium, Jacobsen explores the relationship between humans and the inanimate, imbuing a sense of poetry into the objects with which we surround ourselves, from cocktail glasses to pendant lights. Born in Tunisia and raised in England, Tom Dixon’s reputation frequently precedes him. His mystique as a bad boy – Dixon dropped out of art school following a motorcycle accident and spent time in his 20s playing bass with a rock band and organizing warehouse parties – is nearly as recognized as his unmistakable gift for design and emergence as one of England’s most influential designers.
glassybaby – Live Glassblowing ♿
glassybaby madrona · 3406 E Union St, Seattle, WA 98122
Visit our Madrona hot shop and store to watch our glassblowers craft our handmade, one-of-a-kind candle holders. You will see these local glass artisans bring our glassybaby votives to life, starting from molten glass into a vessel of color and light. Each glassybaby is unique, and no two are the same. Enjoy our beautifully curated retail store while watching our artisans work, and browse our seasonal selection of beautiful glass. Every glassybaby purchase gives back to the glassybaby foundation, which has given back over $16M to the people, planet, and animals.
Tacoma – Loving Cups: Glass for Thought and Use ♿
Museum of Glass Gift Shop · 1801 Dock St, Tacoma, WA 98402
This exhibition spotlights the glass cup. Used daily and chosen deliberately, cups are among the most mundane and most personal objects we use. Loving Cups brings together contemporary glass artists from our region to interpret a deceptively simple form, offering a rare survey of the range and diversity of vision within our glass community. Artist Bio: Greg Lastrapes is a Seattle-based artist and curator who dedicates his time to cultivating new approaches to Swedish glass techniques and creating exhibition opportunities that spotlight sincerity and expertise, particularly for early-career glassmakers. He has experience working at the Corning Museum of Glass, Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and several prominent New York-based art galleries. Lastrapes curated, organized, and financed Folks You Should Know for Refract 2025, and recently represented Jacob Shumaker (Seattle, WA) during the Palm Springs Modernism Show in February.
Pilchuck Glass School Exhibition: Out of the Woods
Pilchuck Glass School · 240 2nd Ave South, Seattle, WA 98104
Out of the Woods brings Pilchuck Glass School’s Stanwood campus to Seattle in an exhibition that explores the legacy of Pilchuck’s artistic and educational mission through notable selections from the collection, recent acquisitions, and new work by current staff members. These works highlight the collaboration, innovation, and community that is at the heart of Pilchuck’s artists-teaching-artists ethos. Artist Bio: Works from the collection will include pieces made at Pilchuck by Dale Chihuly, Erwin Eisch, Gretel Eisch, Fred Kahl, Joey Kirkpatrick, Flora Mace, Isgard Moje, Klaus Moje, William Morris, Pike Powers, Richard Royal, Randy Walker, and more. Pilchuck Glass School is staffed by artists who are continuing the school’s mission. Out of the Woods will feature recent works by Jason Elliott (Operations Supervisor), Michael Endo (Artistic Director), Raya Friday (Outreach & Education Supervisor), Tyler Gordon (Studios Manager), and Justin Parisi-Smith (Facilities Manager).
Everett – Celebrate! An 18 Year Legacy of Kilnformed Glass ♿
Schack Art Center · 2921 Hoyt Avenue, Everett, WA 98201
PAiR programs have taken place at Pilchuck Glass School, North Lands Creative, Berlevåg Norway, and Ghost Ranch New Mexico. Over the years, 116 diverse, invited artists who work primarily in kilnformed glass, have come from the Americas, Europe, and Australia to immerse themselves exploring new or existing ideas, through self-directed contemplation, meditation, and making. Curated by Richard Parrish and Steve Klein. Free to the Public.
Luminosity: Our Annual Group Glass Exhibition ♿
Stonington Gallery · 125 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104
October marks the fifth year of Luminosity, Stonington Gallery’s annual group glass exhibition. Centering Northwest Native glass artists alongside a broader group of glassblowers, the exhibition highlights glass as a rigorous, evolving discipline where technical mastery and cultural knowledge converge. Ideal for collectors, curious visitors, and dedicated PNW art appreciators alike, Luminosity offers a compelling view into the depth and momentum of the contemporary glass world. Artist Bio: Ed Archie NoiseCat (Shuswap/Stlitlimx – Interior Salish): Ed Archie NoiseCat, a Shuswap and Stl’itl’kemx artist, was raised in the mountainous interior of British Columbia, where a close connection to land, family, and story shaped his approach to making. Drawing from both his mother’s plateau culture and his father’s coastal lineage, he creates works that carry ancestral narratives through material, scale, and form. Whether monumental or intimate, his carvings and sculptural works reflect a lifelong commitment to craft, transformation, and the lived continuity of culture. Preston Singletary (Tlingit): Preston Singletary, a Tlingit artist of the Eagle moiety, Kaagwaantaan clan, merges formline design with contemporary glass to create work grounded in storytelling. Since the 1980s, his practice has redefined the possibilities of Indigenous art, using glass to carry forward lineage, identity, and tradition while challenging expectations of material. Through both his artwork and collaborations with Indigenous artists globally, Singletary continues to expand and affirm the evolving presence of Native voices in contemporary art. Dan Friday (Lummi): Dan Friday, a Seattle-based glass artist and member of the Lummi Nation, creates work rooted in cultural heritage, personal narrative, and the transformative power of making. Influenced by a lineage of Lummi artists and shaped through decades of experience with leading glassmakers, his sculptures—totems, baskets, salmon, and reefnet anchors—honor both tradition and lived experience. Through glass, Friday bridges cultural continuity and contemporary practice, using the material to reflect identity, resilience, and community. Raven Skyriver (Tlingit): Raven Skyriver, a Washington-born glass artist raised in the San Juan Islands, draws deep inspiration from the natural world, translating marine life into highly realistic, molten glass sculptures. Trained in Venetian techniques and shaped by collaborations with master artists like William Morris and Lino Tagliapietra, he works with skilled teams to create complex, large-scale forms. His work reflects both technical mastery and a reverence for nature, inviting viewers to consider the beauty and fragility of the ecosystems his subjects inhabit. Kelly O’Dell (Non-Indigenous): Kelly O’Dell, a Seattle-born artist raised on Hawaiʻi’s Big Island, draws from a childhood shaped by ocean life, artistic practice, and the complexities of a place marked by both ecological richness and colonial legacy. Trained in glass at the University of Hawaiʻi and further shaped through work at Pilchuck, her practice centers on themes of species extinction, conservation, and human impact on the natural world. Now based on Lopez Island, her work continues to reflect a life closely attuned to water, environment, and the fragile systems that sustain them.
Granite Calimpong at Traver Gallery ♿
Traver Gallery · 1100 W. Ewing Street Suite 160, Seattle, 98119 98119
Granite Calimpong affirms his versatility as a sculptor, skilled in various media such as glass, ceramics, wood, metal, light, and photography. His emphasis on material exploration gives vivid and innovative expression to the unique qualities of each of his chosen materials. Artist Bio: Granite Calimpong received a BFA in Interdisciplinary Computing in the Arts and Music from UCSD in 2007 and completed his MFA in Sculpture at the University of Washington in 2019. While a graduate student at UW he explored perception and various visual phenomena associated with illusions through the use of wood, clay, glass, photography, and metal. During the decade before attending the UW, Calimpong worked predominantly in glass, maintaining his own studio practice, assisting various renowned glass artists in the Seattle area, and working as a fabricator helping several non-glass artists realize their ideas in the medium.
VETRI at West Canal Yards
Vetri · 1100 W. Ewing St, Seattle, WA 98119
Vetri will be showcasing artists working in glass, continuing its focus on material-driven work and the legacy of the studio glass movement. You’ll see a range of approaches, from functional objects to sculptural pieces. Visit the gallery to find beautifully designed, thoughtfully curated, handmade objects by emerging and established artists from the Northwest and internationally.
Dick Weiss at Traver Gallery ♿
Traver Gallery · 1100 W. Ewing Street Suite 160, Seattle, 98119 98119
Known for his formal explorations of color, light, and abstraction in leaded glass, Weiss winds a lively color palette and joyful juxtapositions of forms into this newest body of work. His unique use of negative space and clear glass invites architectural and natural surroundings to become an active and changing part of his compositions. Likewise, Weiss draws inspiration from such environments, referencing bending trees, stacked stone walls, and rocky tidal beaches in his vivid glass compositions. Artist Bio: Dick Weiss was born in Everett, Washington, and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University. He began teaching at Pilchuck Glass School in 1982, and has completed commissions for the Bellevue Art Museum, Washington, the Port of Shanghai, Shanghai, China, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Washington, and the University of Washington, Seattle. His work can be found in impressive collections around the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Corning Museum of Glass in New York.
Studio Art Glass at Tacoma Art Museum ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
A dynamic and long-term installation featuring visitor favorites alongside recent acquisitions and lesser-seen works chosen from the museum’s Studio Art Glass collection, highlighting works from the Rebecca and Jack Benaroya Collection. Organized by Tacoma Art Museum and curated by Ellen Ito and Jessica Wilks. Museum admission required from 10am to 5pm, free admission from 5pm to 8pm. Cost: $18 from 10am to 5pm, free admission from 5pm to 8pm
Ode to Diligence: The Art of Jason McDonald ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
“Every piece I create, from the humblest tumbler to the most baroque sculpture, makes a statement about isolation, striving, access, perseverance, boundary pushing, and the pursuit of excellence. I believe my presence in the field as a working-class Black man, striving and excelling in a field occupied chiefly by society’s most privileged (whitest), is a powerful artistic and political gesture. “—Jason McDonald Glass vessels evocative of the highly ornamented Baroque style, black silhouettes embedded in scenes on ancient pottery vessels, and medallion reliefs of Black figures all abide in the deliberate, expansive practice of Jason McDonald. McDonald’s visual language is deeply rooted in research of ancient histories, traditional techniques, and race. Here, contemporary ideas blend and transform tradition with caring attention to detail, precision in thought, and beauty. Motivated by glass—with its magical properties, myriad possibilities and potential—McDonald’s devotion lies in the desire to refine the craft, making his hands more familiar and knowledgeable with each replication. Through his repetition and re-imagination of these historical forms, the objects transform into sculptures and vessels of time, carrying with them the essence of centuries-old traditions, as well as McDonald’s commitment and insertion of the representation and notions of Black identity. With a commitment to the craft that transcends his own work, McDonald diligently carves out space for those who will follow him through mentoring and the creation of his own glass studio, which he has named Ideal Conditions. Ode to Diligence: The Art of Jason McDonald is Jason McDonald’s first solo museum exhibition. McDonald is the 2026 awardee of The Current, An Artist Award. Artist Bio: Jason McDonald attended California College of the Arts on a merit scholarship where he received his BFA with Honors in Glass. Afterwards, he was awarded the Presidential Fellowship from Tyler School of Art and Architecture, earning an MFA. He has taught numerous workshops at world-class institutions including Penland School of Craft, Pilchuck Glass School, The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, and others. He was a contestant on the Netflix show Blown Away and collaborates with other artists and designers, including Solange Knowles’ brand, Saint Heron, for whom he designed and fabricated a line of stemware. Museum admission is required from 10am to 5pm, free admission from 5pm to 8pm. Cost: $18 from 10am to 5pm, free admission from 5pm to 8pm.
Tacoma – Ode to Diligence: The Art of Jason McDonald ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
“Every piece I create, from the humblest tumbler to the most baroque sculpture, makes a statement about isolation, striving, access, perseverance, boundary pushing, and the pursuit of excellence. I believe my presence in the field as a working-class Black man, striving and excelling in a field occupied chiefly by society’s most privileged (whitest), is a powerful artistic and political gesture. “—Jason McDonald Glass vessels evocative of the highly ornamented Baroque style, black silhouettes embedded in scenes on ancient pottery vessels, and medallion reliefs of Black figures all abide in the deliberate, expansive practice of Jason McDonald. McDonald’s visual language is deeply rooted in research of ancient histories, traditional techniques, and race. Here, contemporary ideas blend and transform tradition with caring attention to detail, precision in thought, and beauty. Motivated by glass—with its magical properties, myriad possibilities and potential—McDonald’s devotion lies in the desire to refine the craft, making his hands more familiar and knowledgeable with each replication. Through his repetition and re-imagination of these historical forms, the objects transform into sculptures and vessels of time, carrying with them the essence of centuries-old traditions, as well as McDonald’s commitment and insertion of the representation and notions of Black identity. With a commitment to the craft that transcends his own work, McDonald diligently carves out space for those who will follow him through mentoring and the creation of his own glass studio, which he has named Ideal Conditions. Ode to Diligence: The Art of Jason McDonald is Jason McDonald’s first solo museum exhibition. McDonald is the 2026 awardee of The Current, An Artist Award. Artist Bio: Jason McDonald attended California College of the Arts on a merit scholarship where he received his BFA with Honors in Glass. Afterwards, he was awarded the Presidential Fellowship from Tyler School of Art and Architecture, earning an MFA. He has taught numerous workshops at world-class institutions including Penland School of Craft, Pilchuck Glass School, The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, and others. He was a contestant on the Netflix show Blown Away and collaborates with other artists and designers, including Solange Knowles’ brand, Saint Heron, for whom he designed and fabricated a line of stemware. Museum admission is required from 10am to 5pm, free admission from 5pm to 8pm. Cost: $18 from 10am to 5pm, free admission from 5pm to 8pm.
Tacoma – Studio Art Glass at Tacoma Art Museum ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
A dynamic and long-term installation featuring visitor favorites alongside recent acquisitions and lesser-seen works chosen from the museum’s Studio Art Glass collection, highlighting works from the Rebecca and Jack Benaroya Collection. Organized by Tacoma Art Museum and curated by Ellen Ito and Jessica Wilks. Museum admission is required from 10am to 5pm, free admission from 5pm to 8pm. Cost: $18 from 10am to 5pm, free admission from 5pm to 8pm.
Tacoma – Chihuly at Tacoma Art Museum ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
Over the course of his distinguished career, Tacoma native Dale Chihuly has emerged as one of the most prominent American artists of the last century. In honor of his family and his hometown, in 1990 he began donating a retrospective collection of his work to TAM, and these works are on permanent view. The presentation has been reimagined to highlight the color, variety, and drama of his sculptural forms. Museum admission is required from 10am to 5pm, free admission from 5pm to 8pm. Cost: $18 from 10am to 5pm, free admission from 5pm to 8pm.
Luminous Forms – New Work by Mikey Cozza ♿
Gallery Mack · 2100 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Utilizing his exceptional knowledge of Venetian techniques, Cozza’s work explores the optical qualities of glass by manipulating color, texture and form. This newest solo exhibition will showcase new work that demonstrates his skillful use of reticello, cane work and murrine.
Private Tour of The Boathouse ♿
The Boathouse is the private working studio and hotshop of artist Dale Chihuly. Inside, the space is representative of Chihuly’s design aesthetic, showcasing pieces from his iconic bodies of work as well as his personal collections of art and unique objects. It is also home to The Hotshop, where Chihuly and his team of glassblowers create works in glass for exhibitions and art installations at museums and gardens around the world. Located on the shores of Lake Union in Seattle, The Boathouse offers a singular behind-the-scenes look at the life and work of Chihuly. This is a free ticketed event. Registration will open here on Oct 5. Limited availability. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/private-tour-of-the-boathouse-1130am-tickets-1993635460329?aff=oddtdtcreator
Ocean Eleven
Virtual · Seattle, WA
A free live online presentation featuring eleven artists pushing the boundaries of the studio glass movement, working with luminous color, glass, and light to create sculptures that explore the resilience of the ocean, the beauty of the Earth, and the majestic force of our natural world. RSVP now through https://bit.ly/oceanelevan, and receive BONUS: Free access to a limited docuseries featuring behind-the-scenes interviews with each artist! Ocean Eleven is inspired, in part, by astronaut Christina Koch’s message from Artemis II. Reflecting on Earth from a lunar vantage point—you are a crew—this project investigates what it means to move forward with shared responsibility for the planet. This online presentation with museum curator Jodie Nelson brings together artists who extend the role of the artist—acting as record keepers, tracing environmental change, and as peacemakers, holding space for reflection across the visible and unseen forces shaping our future. Together, these works by April Surgent, Julie Conway, Kait Rhoads, Meg Holgate, Jenny Pohlman, Sabrina Knowles, Mary White, Stacy Levy, Steve Jensen, Steve Klein, and TBD offer visual form to stories of relationship—between people, place, and ecological intelligence, recognizing that what we cultivate defines the communities we live within.
Taut ♿
Mini Mart City Park · 6525 Ellis Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108
Taut, a solo exhibition by Zoe Potter, uses glass, steel, latex, and more in a series of figurative sculptures. The work’s focus on materiality centers the tension and harmony that lies between materials, as well as their own relationship to scale and space. Artist Bio: Zoe Potter is a Seattle-based artist and a recent graduate in the fine arts program at Cornish College of the Arts. At the end of her tenure in the program, Potter was nominated twice for the Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award and was awarded a scholarship to attend the Pilchuck School of Glass. While she has shown work in numerous group exhibitions, her thesis exhibition prompted a re-exhibition of some of these paintings at the 2025 Seattle Art Fair.
Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen w/ Jasen Johnsen and Hilltop Artists Hot Shop
Pratt Fine Arts Center · 1902 S Main St., Seattle, WA 98144
Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen is an acclaimed glass artist whose work is inspired by nature and decades of dedication to the studio glass movement. After earning her BFA in Sculpture from Ohio University, she moved to Washington State in 1987 and worked as an assistant to renowned artist William Morris. Raised by a naturalist father in Ohio, Karen channels the textures and spirit of the natural world into her sculptures. She is the recipient of the prestigious Libenský–Brychtová Award. Alongside her husband and collaborator, Jasen Johnsen, she teaches glass sculpting workshops worldwide, inspiring emerging artists through their passion and mastery of glass. Using glass art to connect young people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds to better futures. Hilltop Artists is a youth development arts nonprofit in Tacoma, Washington operating deeply impactful programs since 1994 with broad community support, and a track record of success. Hilltop Artists serves over 700 students a year ages 12 – 26 through its programming, providing tuition-free glass instruction, mentorship, and collaborative leadership opportunities.
Bainbridge Island – Free Screening of HOLY FRIT (2021) ♿
BARN (Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network) · 8890 Three Tree Lane NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Join BARN’s Glass Arts Studio for a free screening of Holy Frit, a documentary by Justin Monroe about artist Tim Carey’s ambitious, near-disastrous attempt to create the world’s largest stained-glass window for a Kansas Church. 4:30-5:30 PM: Social hour with drinks, cheese, and crackers Introduction by Aspire Glass Artist Debra Arend 5:30-7:00 PM Film (Popcorn provided!)
Hot Shop Demo | Jason Christian & Dan Friday ♿
Seattle Glassblowing Studio · 2227 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121
Live glassblowing demonstration by special guest artist. Celebrating the 35th year of Seattle Glassblowing Studio. Artist Bios: Jason Christian is a glass artist living in the Seattle area. He became involved in glass art at the age of 21 — starting as a hotshop charger, slowly developing his glass knowledge through experience. He has worked with a variety of well-known artists in the Seattle community, and more than a decade as integral member of Dale Chihuly’s boathouse team, collaborating and working with international artists, including Pino Singnoretti. His individual work explores the art of reticello, classical Venetian techniques, and modern simplicity. Dan Friday is a member of the Lummi Nation and a Skagit Valley based artist. He has spent the last 30 years creating works primarily in glass. Dan has taught at the University of Washington, Evergreen State Collage, Pilchuck Glass School, Pendland School of Craft, Chrysler Museum, and the Haystack Craft Center. In 2017 Dan started the Native Youth outreach Program at the Pilchuck Glass School. The themes and images of Friday’s work are often drawn from his Coast Salish heritage and are solidified in the world of glass art.
Celebrate art at Art Table ♿
Art Table · 915 E Pine St 2nd Floor, Seattle, WA 98122
Art Table is a restaurant & bar that features a rotating exhibition of art on the walls, tables made by artists, and curiosities to be found in the space. By the entrance rest glass display cases, one enclosing handmade glassware by a longtime friend of the owner. Along the walls, art surrounds the theme of glass through the perspective of fragility and life (or “fragility of life”), reminding us to celebrate the little moments. Artist Bio: A 3-month-long showcase of various local artists showcasing works related to “fragility and life” or “fragility of life” (reminding us to celebrate the little moments), an open-ended call for artists with 2D pieces, digital work, or small glass pieces.
GATHER: The Refract Opening Night Party ♿
Chihuly Garden and Glass · 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109
Official opening night for REFRACT, celebrating the amazing milestones in the Glass Community. 50 years of PRATT Fine Art School, 35 Years of Seattle Glassblowing Studio, and 30th Anniversary of Chihuly over Venice.. Ignite your curiosity with glassblowing demonstrations from amazing glass artists, VIP tours of Chihuly Garden and Glass, music, hors d’oeuvres, signature cocktails, and other special programming to light up the night. Ticketed event: Early bird special: $55 until 8/31 $65 until 9/30 $75 until 10/15 This is a 21+ event – IDs must be shown at the door. Doors open at 6:30PM. 7:00PM VIP Tour. Please see the Event page for additional information. Tickets must be purchased online before the event. Tickets will be available soon. https://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/events.
Birds of a Feather: PNW Glass Takes Flight ♿
BARN (Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network) · 8890 Three Tree Lane NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Enjoy an exhibit showcasing glass art made at BARN, featuring established artists and makers of all ages!
Bainbridge Island – Pratt Fine Arts Center @ 50 ♿
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art · 550 Winslow Way E., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
PART OF HANDWORK 2026: Pratt Fine Arts Center, in Seattle’s Central District, has been a community arts hub for the past fifty years. Pratt was initially established by the City of Seattle — named for the civil rights leader Edwin T. Pratt, Executive Director of the Seattle Urban League — who was murdered in 1969. Pratt serves artists of all ages and abilities, year-round, with affordable classes and studios. It provides access to diverse media including glass; sculpture in metal, stone, wood, and mixed-media; jewelry art; paper and felt-making; and a variety of 2D media including drawing, painting, and printmaking. Featured artists include former and current students, instructors, board members, and staff.
Glass Blowing Lessons ♿
Blowing Sands Glass · 5805 14th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Hands-on lessons with an experienced glass-blowing instructor. Individuals or groups of up to 5. Please email or call for information about pricing and to schedule a time. Artist Bio: David Smith was introduced to the art of glass blowing in 1978 while studying for a degree in materials science: He was hooked. After graduation, he returned home to Seattle and started working full-time as a glass blower. Some travel let him get experience at a glass studio in Paris and a pottery workshop in Ireland. In 1992, he established his own studio/hot-shop in Ballard.
Color, Science, and Glass ♿
Blowing Sands Glass · 5805 14th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
This year we’re in search of things to appreciate and color is our starting place: The deep blue of cobalt, a garnet red, a brilliant emerald green. We’ll let you in on some local glass artists’ color stories (just because you love one particular shade of yellow, doesn’t mean it always loves you back.) And then, because where art and science connect is our happy place, we look at how these colors work on a more molecular level. Whether glass is made of materials that reflect or absorb light, knowing that that great pink glass has some hidden gold in it, or that a ‘striking’ glass color will change significantly depending on the heat/cooling cycles used—all sorts of things influence the color of a piece. This is an exhibit exploring some of that chemistry and its effect on glass blowers’ working lives. Artist Bio: David Smith was introduced to the art of glass blowing in 1978 while studying for a degree in materials science: He was hooked. After graduation, he returned home to Seattle and started working full-time as a glass blower. Some travel let him get experience at a glass studio in Paris and a pottery workshop in Ireland. In 1992, he established his own studio/hot-shop in Ballard.
Modern Design & Glass at Design Within Reach ♿
Design Within Reach · 1918 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Explore both iconic & modern glass through the world of design; names such as Glas Italia, Helle Mardahl, Louis Poulsen, MESO, Sophie Lou Jacobsen, Tom Dixon, and more. Artist Bio: Helle Mardahl Studio operates at the intersection of art and functionality to create a dreamy universe of richly coloured glass designs of eccentric deviance. Influenced by nostalgic memories from childhood and iconic films such as Alice in Wonderland and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, the collection of glossy glass creates a conceptual candy universe of magic, dreams, and indulgence. Elevated lighting Louis Poulsen partnered with the famous Danish architect Poul Henningsen to elevate lighting to the realm of great design. The company still manufactures Henningsen’s iconic works like the Artichoke and Snowball pendants to the architect’s same exacting specifications. French-American designer Sophie Lou Jacobsen creates objects and furniture for everyday use, but with details designed to delight the user. Working mainly with colored borosilicate glass as her medium, Jacobsen explores the relationship between humans and the inanimate, imbuing a sense of poetry into the objects with which we surround ourselves, from cocktail glasses to pendant lights. Born in Tunisia and raised in England, Tom Dixon’s reputation frequently precedes him. His mystique as a bad boy – Dixon dropped out of art school following a motorcycle accident and spent time in his 20s playing bass with a rock band and organizing warehouse parties – is nearly as recognized as his unmistakable gift for design and emergence as one of England’s most influential designers.
glassybaby – Live Glassblowing ♿
glassybaby madrona · 3406 E Union St, Seattle, WA 98122
Visit our Madrona hot shop and store to watch our glassblowers craft our handmade, one-of-a-kind candle holders. You will see these local glass artisans bring our glassybaby votives to life, starting from molten glass into a vessel of color and light. Each glassybaby is unique, and no two are the same. Enjoy our beautifully curated retail store while watching our artisans work, and browse our seasonal selection of beautiful glass. Every glassybaby purchase gives back to the glassybaby foundation, which has given back over $16M to the people, planet, and animals.
Tacoma – Live Glassblowing at the Museum of Glass ♿
Museum of Glass · 1801 Dock Street, Tacoma, WA 98402
Watch contemporary glass history in the making as our Hot Shop Team, in collaboration with Visiting Artists, demonstrates the fascinating process of creating works of art from molten glass. Museum admission required.
Pilchuck Glass School Exhibition: Out of the Woods
Pilchuck Glass School · 240 2nd Ave South, Seattle, WA 98104
Out of the Woods brings Pilchuck Glass School’s Stanwood campus to Seattle in an exhibition that explores the legacy of Pilchuck’s artistic and educational mission through notable selections from the collection, recent acquisitions, and new work by current staff members. These works highlight the collaboration, innovation, and community that is at the heart of Pilchuck’s artists-teaching-artists ethos. Artist Bio: Works from the collection will include pieces made at Pilchuck by Dale Chihuly, Erwin Eisch, Gretel Eisch, Fred Kahl, Joey Kirkpatrick, Flora Mace, Isgard Moje, Klaus Moje, William Morris, Pike Powers, Richard Royal, Randy Walker, and more. Pilchuck Glass School is staffed by artists who are continuing the school’s mission. Out of the Woods will feature recent works by Jason Elliott (Operations Supervisor), Michael Endo (Artistic Director), Raya Friday (Outreach & Education Supervisor), Tyler Gordon (Studios Manager), and Justin Parisi-Smith (Facilities Manager).
Everett – Celebrate! An 18 Year Legacy of Kilnformed Glass ♿
Schack Art Center · 2921 Hoyt Avenue, Everett, WA 98201
PAiR programs have taken place at Pilchuck Glass School, North Lands Creative, Berlevåg Norway, and Ghost Ranch New Mexico. Over the years, 116 diverse, invited artists who work primarily in kilnformed glass, have come from the Americas, Europe, and Australia to immerse themselves exploring new or existing ideas, through self-directed contemplation, meditation, and making. Curated by Richard Parrish and Steve Klein. Free to the Public.
Luminosity: Our Annual Group Glass Exhibition ♿
Stonington Gallery · 125 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104
October marks the fifth year of Luminosity, Stonington Gallery’s annual group glass exhibition. Centering Northwest Native glass artists alongside a broader group of glassblowers, the exhibition highlights glass as a rigorous, evolving discipline where technical mastery and cultural knowledge converge. Ideal for collectors, curious visitors, and dedicated PNW art appreciators alike, Luminosity offers a compelling view into the depth and momentum of the contemporary glass world. Artist Bio: Ed Archie NoiseCat (Shuswap/Stlitlimx – Interior Salish): Ed Archie NoiseCat, a Shuswap and Stl’itl’kemx artist, was raised in the mountainous interior of British Columbia, where a close connection to land, family, and story shaped his approach to making. Drawing from both his mother’s plateau culture and his father’s coastal lineage, he creates works that carry ancestral narratives through material, scale, and form. Whether monumental or intimate, his carvings and sculptural works reflect a lifelong commitment to craft, transformation, and the lived continuity of culture. Preston Singletary (Tlingit): Preston Singletary, a Tlingit artist of the Eagle moiety, Kaagwaantaan clan, merges formline design with contemporary glass to create work grounded in storytelling. Since the 1980s, his practice has redefined the possibilities of Indigenous art, using glass to carry forward lineage, identity, and tradition while challenging expectations of material. Through both his artwork and collaborations with Indigenous artists globally, Singletary continues to expand and affirm the evolving presence of Native voices in contemporary art. Dan Friday (Lummi): Dan Friday, a Seattle-based glass artist and member of the Lummi Nation, creates work rooted in cultural heritage, personal narrative, and the transformative power of making. Influenced by a lineage of Lummi artists and shaped through decades of experience with leading glassmakers, his sculptures—totems, baskets, salmon, and reefnet anchors—honor both tradition and lived experience. Through glass, Friday bridges cultural continuity and contemporary practice, using the material to reflect identity, resilience, and community. Raven Skyriver (Tlingit): Raven Skyriver, a Washington-born glass artist raised in the San Juan Islands, draws deep inspiration from the natural world, translating marine life into highly realistic, molten glass sculptures. Trained in Venetian techniques and shaped by collaborations with master artists like William Morris and Lino Tagliapietra, he works with skilled teams to create complex, large-scale forms. His work reflects both technical mastery and a reverence for nature, inviting viewers to consider the beauty and fragility of the ecosystems his subjects inhabit. Kelly O’Dell (Non-Indigenous): Kelly O’Dell, a Seattle-born artist raised on Hawaiʻi’s Big Island, draws from a childhood shaped by ocean life, artistic practice, and the complexities of a place marked by both ecological richness and colonial legacy. Trained in glass at the University of Hawaiʻi and further shaped through work at Pilchuck, her practice centers on themes of species extinction, conservation, and human impact on the natural world. Now based on Lopez Island, her work continues to reflect a life closely attuned to water, environment, and the fragile systems that sustain them.
Tacoma – Ode to Diligence: The Art of Jason McDonald ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
“Every piece I create, from the humblest tumbler to the most baroque sculpture, makes a statement about isolation, striving, access, perseverance, boundary pushing, and the pursuit of excellence. I believe my presence in the field as a working-class Black man, striving and excelling in a field occupied chiefly by society’s most privileged (whitest), is a powerful artistic and political gesture. “—Jason McDonald Glass vessels evocative of the highly ornamented Baroque style, black silhouettes embedded in scenes on ancient pottery vessels, and medallion reliefs of Black figures all abide in the deliberate, expansive practice of Jason McDonald. McDonald’s visual language is deeply rooted in research of ancient histories, traditional techniques, and race. Here, contemporary ideas blend and transform tradition with caring attention to detail, precision in thought, and beauty. Motivated by glass—with its magical properties, myriad possibilities and potential—McDonald’s devotion lies in the desire to refine the craft, making his hands more familiar and knowledgeable with each replication. Through his repetition and re-imagination of these historical forms, the objects transform into sculptures and vessels of time, carrying with them the essence of centuries-old traditions, as well as McDonald’s commitment and insertion of the representation and notions of Black identity. With a commitment to the craft that transcends his own work, McDonald diligently carves out space for those who will follow him through mentoring and the creation of his own glass studio, which he has named Ideal Conditions. Ode to Diligence: The Art of Jason McDonald is Jason McDonald’s first solo museum exhibition. McDonald is the 2026 awardee of The Current, An Artist Award. Artist Bio: Jason McDonald attended California College of the Arts on a merit scholarship where he received his BFA with Honors in Glass. Afterwards, he was awarded the Presidential Fellowship from Tyler School of Art and Architecture, earning an MFA. He has taught numerous workshops at world-class institutions including Penland School of Craft, Pilchuck Glass School, The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, and others. He was a contestant on the Netflix show Blown Away and collaborates with other artists and designers, including Solange Knowles’ brand, Saint Heron, for whom he designed and fabricated a line of stemware. Museum admission required.
Studio Art Glass at Tacoma Art Museum ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
A dynamic and long-term installation featuring visitor favorites alongside recent acquisitions and lesser-seen works chosen from the museum’s Studio Art Glass collection, highlighting works from the Rebecca and Jack Benaroya Collection. Organized by Tacoma Art Museum and curated by Ellen Ito and Jessica Wilks. Museum admission required.
Chihuly at Tacoma Art Museum ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
Over the course of his distinguished career, Tacoma native Dale Chihuly has emerged as one of the most prominent American artists of the last century. In honor of his family and his hometown, in 1990 he began donating a retrospective collection of his work to TAM, and these works are on permanent view. The presentation has been reimagined to highlight the color, variety, and drama of his sculptural forms. Museum admission required.
Granite Calimpong at Traver Gallery ♿
Traver Gallery · 1100 W. Ewing Street Suite 160, Seattle, 98119 98119
Granite Calimpong affirms his versatility as a sculptor, skilled in various media such as glass, ceramics, wood, metal, light, and photography. His emphasis on material exploration gives vivid and innovative expression to the unique qualities of each of his chosen materials. Artist Bio: Granite Calimpong received a BFA in Interdisciplinary Computing in the Arts and Music from UCSD in 2007 and completed his MFA in Sculpture at the University of Washington in 2019. While a graduate student at UW he explored perception and various visual phenomena associated with illusions through the use of wood, clay, glass, photography, and metal. During the decade before attending the UW, Calimpong worked predominantly in glass, maintaining his own studio practice, assisting various renowned glass artists in the Seattle area, and working as a fabricator helping several non-glass artists realize their ideas in the medium.
VETRI at West Canal Yards
Vetri · 1100 W. Ewing St, Seattle, WA 98119
Vetri will be showcasing artists working in glass, continuing its focus on material-driven work and the legacy of the studio glass movement. You’ll see a range of approaches, from functional objects to sculptural pieces. Visit the gallery to find beautifully designed, thoughtfully curated, handmade objects by emerging and established artists from the Northwest and internationally.
Visiting Artist Benjamin Cobb ♿
Museum of Glass · 1801 Dock Street, Tacoma, WA 98402
Visiting Artist Benjamin Cobb will demonstrate in the Museum of Glass Hot Shop during Refract 2026! Through 25 years of working in glassblowing, Benjamin Cobb has honed his mastery of glass, traveled across the globe, and worked with hundreds of artists. An East Coast transplant, Cobb holds a BFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has been a demonstrating artist at glass studios as far afield as Sweden, the Czech Republic, Italy, and France. He’s taught at Penland School of Crafts, Pilchuck Glass School, and many other glass programs in the US. He’s a recognizable leader and voice in the glass community and has contributed to the success of countless works of art. In his own work, Cobb draws inspiration from the natural world as well as scientific process. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Northwest Art in LaConner, WA, Museum of Glass, and dozens of galleries across the country. Cobb is the longtime director of the Museum of Glass Hot Shop. Museum admission required. Artist Bio:Through 25 years of working in glassblowing, Benjamin Cobb has honed his mastery of glass, traveled across the globe, and worked with hundreds of artists. An East Coast transplant, Cobb holds a BFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has been a demonstrating artist at glass studios as far afield as Sweden, the Czech Republic, Italy, and France. He’s taught at Penland School of Crafts, Pilchuck Glass School, and many other glass programs in the US. He’s a recognizable leader and voice in the glass community and has contributed to the success of countless works of art. In his own work, Cobb draws inspiration from the natural world as well as scientific process. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Northwest Art in LaConner, WA, Museum of Glass, and dozens of galleries across the country. Cobb is the longtime director of the Museum of Glass Hot Shop.
Dick Weiss at Traver Gallery ♿
Traver Gallery · 1100 W. Ewing Street Suite 160, Seattle, 98119 98119
Known for his formal explorations of color, light, and abstraction in leaded glass, Weiss winds a lively color palette and joyful juxtapositions of forms into this newest body of work. His unique use of negative space and clear glass invites architectural and natural surroundings to become an active and changing part of his compositions. Likewise, Weiss draws inspiration from such environments, referencing bending trees, stacked stone walls, and rocky tidal beaches in his vivid glass compositions. Artist Bio: Dick Weiss was born in Everett, Washington, and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University. He began teaching at Pilchuck Glass School in 1982, and has completed commissions for the Bellevue Art Museum, Washington, the Port of Shanghai, Shanghai, China, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Washington, and the University of Washington, Seattle. His work can be found in impressive collections around the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Corning Museum of Glass in New York.
Studio Art Glass at Tacoma Art Museum ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
A dynamic and long-term installation featuring visitor favorites alongside recent acquisitions and lesser-seen works chosen from the museum’s Studio Art Glass collection, highlighting works from the Rebecca and Jack Benaroya Collection. Organized by Tacoma Art Museum and curated by Ellen Ito and Jessica Wilks. Museum admission required from 10am to 5pm, free admission from 5pm to 8pm. Cost: $18 from 10am to 5pm, free admission from 5pm to 8pm
Tacoma – Studio Art Glass at Tacoma Art Museum ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
A dynamic and long-term installation featuring visitor favorites alongside recent acquisitions and lesser-seen works chosen from the museum’s Studio Art Glass collection, highlighting works from the Rebecca and Jack Benaroya Collection. Organized by Tacoma Art Museum and curated by Ellen Ito and Jessica Wilks. Museum admission required.
Tacoma – Chihuly at Tacoma Art Museum ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
Over the course of his distinguished career, Tacoma native Dale Chihuly has emerged as one of the most prominent American artists of the last century. In honor of his family and his hometown, in 1990 he began donating a retrospective collection of his work to TAM, and these works are on permanent view. The presentation has been reimagined to highlight the color, variety, and drama of his sculptural forms. Museum admission required.
Luminous Forms – New Work by Mikey Cozza ♿
Gallery Mack · 2100 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Utilizing his exceptional knowledge of Venetian techniques, Cozza’s work explores the optical qualities of glass by manipulating color, texture and form. This newest solo exhibition will showcase new work that demonstrates his skillful use of reticello, cane work and murrine.
Hot Shop Demo | Paull Rodrigue ♿
Seattle Glassblowing Studio · 2227 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121
Join us in the hotshop for a special guest artist demonstration by Paull Rodrigue. Paull’s color-rich artwork has been showcased at the Studio gallery for many years, but we’re excited to host him for the first onsite demo! His pieces are recognizable for his style of intersecting jewel tones and their play with light. Celebrating the 35th year of Seattle Glassblowing Studio.
Issaquah – Glassblowing Experiences at Art by Fire ♿
Art by Fire · 195 Front St N, Issaquah, WA 98027
Curious about the magic of shaping molten glass? In our private glassblowing classes, we’ll guide you step by step through a fun, hands-on experience—no prior experience needed. You’ll create multiple unique pieces to remember your time in the studio, which can be picked up once they’ve cooled or shipped to you for convenience. Artist Bio: Art Freas – I see glass as the way to capture and preserve movement and moments timelessly. My family had a technical glassblowing business for three generations before me, so a love of glass comes naturally to me. Select times from 11:15am, 12:30pm, 1:45am, 4:15pm, and 5:30pm.
Taut ♿
Mini Mart City Park · 6525 Ellis Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108
Taut, a solo exhibition by Zoe Potter, uses glass, steel, latex, and more in a series of figurative sculptures. The work’s focus on materiality centers the tension and harmony that lies between materials, as well as their own relationship to scale and space. Artist Bio: Zoe Potter is a Seattle-based artist and a recent graduate in the fine arts program at Cornish College of the Arts. At the end of her tenure in the program, Potter was nominated twice for the Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award and was awarded a scholarship to attend the Pilchuck School of Glass. While she has shown work in numerous group exhibitions, her thesis exhibition prompted a re-exhibition of some of these paintings at the 2025 Seattle Art Fair.
Through the Looking Glass Walking Tour
Meet at 6th and Lenora · 6th and Lenora, Seattle, WA 98121
Join the Seattle Architecture Foundation for a two-hour walking tour of Seattle’s unique relationship with glass. While modern buildings are often fully wrapped entirely in glass, Seattle’s older buildings have smaller-scaled windows as you recede into the history of building design. Learn how architects and developers went from using glass as an opening nestled into a stone wall to today’s modern buildings sheathed in glass. On this tour, you will discover how glass is used from the past to the present as Seattle has grown in the last few decades. Tickets will be live in August.
Special Tour of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s glass collection ♿
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) · 17801 International Blvd, Seattle, WA 98158
Come experience the magic of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s captivating glass collection on Friday afternoon! Their Public Art collection spans from early commissions including renowned artists such as Linda Beaumont, Cappy Thompson, and Dick Weiss to their most recent acquisitions including the following artists: Weston Lambert, the De La Torre Brothers, and Jeremy Bert and Jen Elek. Limited spots available! Join them for an unforgettable journey into Public Art and creativity. 25 people max. To RSVP, please email [email protected].
Boyd Sugiki and Lisa Zerkowitz of Two Tone Studios Hot Shop
Pratt Fine Arts Center · 1902 S Main St., Seattle, WA 98144
Boyd Sugiki and Lisa Zerkowitz began blowing glass together at Rhode Island School of Design in 1995, where Sugiki earned his MFA in Glass and Zerkowitz an MA in Art Education. Sugiki was first introduced to glass at Punahou High School in Honolulu, HI and went on to earn a BFA from California College of the Arts. Zerkowitz earned a BA in Studio Art from University of California, Santa Barbara. Together they design and produce a line of studio glass in Seattle under the name Two Tone Studios. They have lectured, demonstrated, and taught workshops throughout the US and abroad. In 2020 they relocated to Toyama, Japan, where Sugiki completed a 4-year contract of Associate Professor of Hot Glass at Toyama Institute of Glass Art in 2024. Simultaneously Zerkowitz served as Secretary of the Glass Art Society board of directors, organizing and implementing their inaugural travel program trip to Japan.
Glass Blowing demonstration by artist David Smith and friends ♿
Blowing Sands Glass · 5805 14th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Watch glass blowers at play. Found items will be used as forms for experiments with molten glass. A collection of natural and man-made materials will be employed: Cedar strips, driftwood, a semi-truck shock coil—whatever the glass blowers find inspiring. Artist Bio: David Smith was introduced to the art of glass blowing in 1978 while studying for a degree in materials science: He was hooked. After graduation he returned home to Seattle and started working full-time as a glass blower. Some travel let him get experience at a glass studio in Paris and a pottery workshop in Ireland. In 1992 he established his own studio/hot-shop in Ballard.
Luminous Forms – New Work by Mikey Cozza – Artist Reception ♿
Gallery Mack · 2100 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Utilizing his exceptional knowledge of Venetian techniques, Cozza’s work explores the optical qualities of glass by manipulating color, texture and form. This newest solo exhibition will showcase new work that demonstrates his skillful use of reticello, cane work and murrine.
Bainbridge Island – LUMINOUS! ♿
Bainbridge Arts & Crafts · 151 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island, 98110
This special exhibition celebrates light, reflection and translucence in the work of Northwest glass masters Robert Carlson, Steve Maslach, Trenton Quiocho, KeKe Cribbs, Gregory Lastrapes, and Alicia Lomne, and abstract paintings by Jeanne Toal. About the Artist: Robert Carlson Robert Carlson’s career in glass began in 1980 and spans some 40 years. During this time he worked and studied with such icons as Erwin Eisch, Libensky/Brychtova, Chihuly, Ulrica Hydman Vallien and Bertil Vallien, and Dan Daily. He developed the unique Break-away Sand Mold which allows him to combine the elements of sand-casting and glass blowing into one object. He is also known for his reverse painting techniques that transmit his archetypal imagery throughout the three dimensions of his sculptures. He has taught at the Pilchuck School, Pendland School of Crafts, Haystack Mt. School, Bild-Werk Frauenau, Cam Ocai Turkey, sat on the board of the American Craft Council, and was President of the Glass Art Society. Now a published author, his first book “TotIs” (2012) was followed by “Gita”, “TAO: A New Interpretation”, and “Phantom Horizons: Chuang Tau Plays Solitaire”. He lives and writes on Bainbridge Island. KEKE CRIBBS KeKe Cribbs was born in Colorado in 1951. She lived in Ireland, France, Corsica and New Mexico before making her home on Whidbey Island after attending Pilchuck Glass School in 1983. She has since taught at Pilchuck Glass School and the Penland School of Crafts, and in 1986 she started a Glass program at the Swain School of Design which later became SMU in South Dartmouth, MA. She has also taught workshops at TIGA in Toyama, Japan, and was invited to participate in the Stourbridge Glass Festival in 2019. In April 2026 the James Renwick Alliance is gave her an award for “Master of the Medium”. Her work has been collected internationally, including the Corning Glass Museum, NY, the L.A. County Museum, CA, the Racine Art Museum, WI, Tacoma Art Museum and Tacoma Glass Museum, WA, and the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Japan. GREGORY LASTRAPES Greg Lastrapes is a Seattle-based glass artist and curator. He holds a BFA in Glass and Ceramics and a BS in Art History from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University (2019). After graduating, he studied with Swedish Master Glassblower Micke Johansson. Lastrapes has since dedicated his practice to cultivating new approaches to Swedish glass techniques and creating exhibition opportunities that spotlight sincerity and expertise, particularly for early-career glassmakers. Lastrapes has exhibited work internationally and has taught Swedish-style glassblowing in studios across New York City, Boston, Providence, San Jose, and Seattle. ALICIA LOMNE Alicia Lomné is an artist living and working on Whidbey Island. Lomné has spent her career exploring and developing her own unique style of the kiln casting technique, pâte de verre. She is known for her explorations of a new hollow internal core for creating remarkably large-scale pâte de verre vessels. Lomné has exhibited her work nationally and has participated in shows with The Kentucky Museum of Art and Design, The Museum of American Glass, Figgie Art Museum, National Liberty Museum, Bergstrom-Mahler Museum, and The Muskegon Museum of Art. For several years, Lomné has enthusiastically shared her knowledge through teaching. She has taught at Pilchuck Glass School, Penland School of Crafts, Bullseye Glass, and The Studio, as well as in Denmark, Switzerland, and Australia. STEVEN MASLACH Steven Maslach began blowing glass in 1968 and opened his first studio in 1971. His work is characterized by the transmission, reflection and kinetic variations of pure colors within heavy cast artwork. He pioneered the use of dichroic filters in glass sculpture, starting in the early 1980s. His work evolved from blown pieces to crucible-cast large works created in his studio on Bainbridge Island. TRENTON QUIOCHO Trenton Quiocho is a Filipino-American, Tacoma,
glassybaby – Hands-on ♿
glassybaby madrona · 3406 E Union St, Seattle, WA 98122
Please join us on October 17th for an evening of glassblowing at our Madrona hot shop. Select your favorite colors to create a custom glass pumpkin with our talented artists. Fun for the whole family. Additional details: Ticket purchase is required in advance and is final sale Capacity limited to 1 person per 20 minute session A waiver will be signed upon arrival Closed-toed shoes are required while glassblowing Ages 12+ Ticket price is $180 and available to purchase at: https://www.glassybaby.com/pages/glassybaby-events
35 Years Music & Glass | Hot Glass Party featuring Friday, Skyriver & Khu.éex’
Seattle Glassblowing Studio · 2227 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121
For 35 years, Seattle Glassblowing Studio has welcomed visitors and artists alike into our hotshop. Come celebrate our 35th Anniversary with us with hot glass and cool music! Evening will include a collaborative demonstration by Dan Friday and Raven Skyriver with music provided by Khu.éex’ (featuring Preston Singletary). Artist Bio: Dan Friday is a member of the Lummi Nation and a Skagit Valley based artist. He has spent the last 30 years creating works primarily in glass. Dan has taught at the University of Washington, Evergreen State Collage, Pilchuck Glass School, Pendland School of Craft, Chrysler Museum, and the Haystack Craft Center. In 2017 Dan started the Native Youth outreach Program at the Pilchuck Glass School. Raven Skyriver started blowing glass in high school at the age of sixteen. Raven’s mentor, Lark Dalton, taught him how to build glass blowing equipment and trained him in the traditional Venetian technique. In 2003 Raven was invited to join the William Morris team. He worked on the team until Morris’ retirement in 2007. The experience of working with such a talented group of artists galvanized his decision to follow Glass Sculpture as a profession. Raven lives near the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington, and produces his work in the greater Seattle area. Raven shows his work nationally and has been featured in group shows internationally. His focus in the area of sculpture, and the depiction of marine life is inspired by his island upbringing, and informed by the creatures that inhabit this fragile ecosystem. Khu.éex’ is an Indigenous band full of creative members, including storytellers, activists and artists, that bring this collective energy to the stage as one powerful unit. Our focus is raising awareness of social issues, stemming from the Native American struggle, that branch out to serious issues that effect all people. We are bringing a much-needed Indigenous perspective while keeping our tribal culture and endangered ancient languages alive through music, storytelling and art. The band explores Jazz and Funk/Rock with an improvisational style. The fusion of these styles with spoken word in English, Tlingit, Haida and Y’upic languages is unique. We are also striving to preserve these native languages though our music. This cross-fertilization results in a new sound. Performance art, using traditional masks and regalia accent the dynamic live performances.
Celebrate art at Art Table ♿
Art Table · 915 E Pine St 2nd Floor, Seattle, WA 98122
Art Table is a restaurant & bar that features a rotating exhibition of art on the walls, tables made by artists, and curiosities to be found in the space. By the entrance rest glass display cases, one enclosing handmade glassware by a longtime friend of the owner. Along the walls, art surrounds the theme of glass through the perspective of fragility and life (or “fragility of life”), reminding us to celebrate the little moments. Artist Bio: A 3-month-long showcase of various local artists showcasing works related to “fragility and life” or “fragility of life” (reminding us to celebrate the little moments), an open-ended call for artists with 2D pieces, digital work, or small glass pieces.
Opening Night GAS Film Festival ♿
SIFF Cinema Uptown · 511 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98109
Enjoy the intersection of glass and film and watch the Glass Art Society Annual Film Festival opening night! Come see the feature film (TBD), selected from the 2026 GAS conference in Corning, New York.
Cascadia Cup Club Challenge Hot Shop Community Gathering
Pratt Fine Arts Center · 1902 S Main St., Seattle, WA 98144
Does your cup runneth over?? Come make another. A monthly community gathering dedicated to camaraderie and fun based around cup making in the Hot Shop. This opportunity is open to anyone that already knows how to safely gather and make a cup. You assist two people and then make a cup, each bench time has a set time limit. Themes will rotate for inspiration, this special Refract edition will be announced closer to the evening. You need not make a cup, you are welcome to hang out with friends and make new ones while Glass TV is on in the background, please join us.
Issaquah – Incalmo Platter Demonstration ♿
Art by Fire · 195 Front St N, Issaquah, WA 98027
Watch molten glass come alive as artist Art Freas demonstrates the intricate incalmo technique—carefully joining separate pieces of glowing glass into one seamless, beautifully layered wall platter. Settle into our intimate viewing area with refreshments in hand and enjoy a friendly, educational experience as you take in this mesmerizing craft up close. No tickets or reservations required. Artist Bio: Art Freas – I see glass as the way to capture and preserve movement and moments timelessly. My family had a technical glassblowing business for three generations before me, so a love of glass comes naturally to me.
Birds of a Feather: PNW Glass Takes Flight ♿
BARN (Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network) · 8890 Three Tree Lane NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Enjoy an exhibit showcasing glass art made at BARN, featuring established artists and makers of all ages!
Hot Shop Demonstration ♿
Seattle Glassblowing Studio · 2227 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121
Live glassblowing demonstration by special guest artist. Celebrating the 35th year of Seattle Glassblowing Studio.
Fire & Rain Glass Bead Society Flame Shop
Pratt Fine Arts Center · 1902 S Main St., Seattle, WA 98144
Fire & Rain Glass Bead Society is a glass beadmakers’ group based in western Washington state, forming Fall of 2005. We are an official chapter of the International Society of Glassbeadmakers.
Bainbridge Island – Demo Day in BARN’s Glass Arts Studio ♿
BARN (Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network) · 8890 Three Tree Lane NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Join us in the studio for 4 sessions of demonstrations by artists and makers extraordinaire, featuring Torchwork, Stained Glass, Mosaics, and Fused Glass. Student work will also be on display!
Bainbridge Island – Pratt Fine Arts Center @ 50 ♿
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art · 550 Winslow Way E., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
PART OF HANDWORK 2026: Pratt Fine Arts Center, in Seattle’s Central District, has been a community arts hub for the past fifty years. Pratt was initially established by the City of Seattle — named for the civil rights leader Edwin T. Pratt, Executive Director of the Seattle Urban League — who was murdered in 1969. Pratt serves artists of all ages and abilities, year-round, with affordable classes and studios. It provides access to diverse media including glass; sculpture in metal, stone, wood, and mixed-media; jewelry art; paper and felt-making; and a variety of 2D media including drawing, painting, and printmaking. Featured artists include former and current students, instructors, board members, and staff.
Glass Blowing Lessons ♿
Blowing Sands Glass · 5805 14th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Hands-on lessons with an experienced glass-blowing instructor. Individuals or groups of up to 5. Please email or call for information about pricing and to schedule a time. Artist Bio: David Smith was introduced to the art of glass blowing in 1978 while studying for a degree in materials science: He was hooked. After graduation, he returned home to Seattle and started working full-time as a glass blower. Some travel let him get experience at a glass studio in Paris and a pottery workshop in Ireland. In 1992, he established his own studio/hot-shop in Ballard.
Modern Design & Glass at Design Within Reach ♿
Design Within Reach · 1918 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Explore both iconic & modern glass through the world of design; names such as Glas Italia, Helle Mardahl, Louis Poulsen, MESO, Sophie Lou Jacobsen, Tom Dixon, and more. Artist Bio: Helle Mardahl Studio operates at the intersection of art and functionality to create a dreamy universe of richly coloured glass designs of eccentric deviance. Influenced by nostalgic memories from childhood and iconic films such as Alice in Wonderland and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, the collection of glossy glass creates a conceptual candy universe of magic, dreams, and indulgence. Elevated lighting Louis Poulsen partnered with the famous Danish architect Poul Henningsen to elevate lighting to the realm of great design. The company still manufactures Henningsen’s iconic works like the Artichoke and Snowball pendants to the architect’s same exacting specifications. French-American designer Sophie Lou Jacobsen creates objects and furniture for everyday use, but with details designed to delight the user. Working mainly with colored borosilicate glass as her medium, Jacobsen explores the relationship between humans and the inanimate, imbuing a sense of poetry into the objects with which we surround ourselves, from cocktail glasses to pendant lights. Born in Tunisia and raised in England, Tom Dixon’s reputation frequently precedes him. His mystique as a bad boy – Dixon dropped out of art school following a motorcycle accident and spent time in his 20s playing bass with a rock band and organizing warehouse parties – is nearly as recognized as his unmistakable gift for design and emergence as one of England’s most influential designers.
Through the Looking Glass Walking Tour
Meet at 6th and Lenora · 6th and Lenora, Seattle, WA 98121
Join the Seattle Architecture Foundation for a two-hour walking tour of Seattle’s unique relationship with glass. While modern buildings are often fully wrapped entirely in glass, Seattle’s older buildings have smaller-scaled windows as you recede into the history of building design. Learn how architects and developers went from using glass as an opening nestled into a stone wall to today’s modern buildings sheathed in glass. On this tour, you will discover how glass is used from the past to the present as Seattle has grown in the last few decades. Tickets will be live in August.
Tacoma – Live Glassblowing at the Museum of Glass ♿
Museum of Glass · 1801 Dock Street, Tacoma, WA 98402
Watch contemporary glass history in the making as our Hot Shop Team, in collaboration with Visiting Artists, demonstrates the fascinating process of creating works of art from molten glass. Museum admission required.
Redmond – Veritable Visionary Vitrograph ♿
Northwest Art Glass, Inc · 9003 151st Avenue NE, Redmond, WA 98052
Watch, Learn, Participate – FREE live action vitrograph pulling opportunity in both COE 90 and COE 96 glass. This hands-on event allows you to watch the process, ask the questions, and try the technique.
Glass And Decor Studio Tour and Sale
Throughout Seattle · Seattle, WA
Several Pacific NW Glass Guild members (PNWGlassGuild.org) and their friends open their studios to you on this free self-drive tour in North Seattle. Each studio also hosts a few guest artists. You’ll see a wide range of glass techniques and a few other media. Most locations have demonstrations of some sort, and all the artists enjoy discussing their work. See further details at GlassAndDecor.com.
Pilchuck Glass School Exhibition: Out of the Woods
Pilchuck Glass School · 240 2nd Ave South, Seattle, WA 98104
Out of the Woods brings Pilchuck Glass School’s Stanwood campus to Seattle in an exhibition that explores the legacy of Pilchuck’s artistic and educational mission through notable selections from the collection, recent acquisitions, and new work by current staff members. These works highlight the collaboration, innovation, and community that is at the heart of Pilchuck’s artists-teaching-artists ethos. Artist Bio: Works from the collection will include pieces made at Pilchuck by Dale Chihuly, Erwin Eisch, Gretel Eisch, Fred Kahl, Joey Kirkpatrick, Flora Mace, Isgard Moje, Klaus Moje, William Morris, Pike Powers, Richard Royal, Randy Walker, and more. Pilchuck Glass School is staffed by artists who are continuing the school’s mission. Out of the Woods will feature recent works by Jason Elliott (Operations Supervisor), Michael Endo (Artistic Director), Raya Friday (Outreach & Education Supervisor), Tyler Gordon (Studios Manager), and Justin Parisi-Smith (Facilities Manager).
Everett – Celebrate! An 18 Year Legacy of Kilnformed Glass ♿
Schack Art Center · 2921 Hoyt Avenue, Everett, WA 98201
PAiR programs have taken place at Pilchuck Glass School, North Lands Creative, Berlevåg Norway, and Ghost Ranch New Mexico. Over the years, 116 diverse, invited artists who work primarily in kilnformed glass, have come from the Americas, Europe, and Australia to immerse themselves exploring new or existing ideas, through self-directed contemplation, meditation, and making. Curated by Richard Parrish and Steve Klein. Free to the Public.
Luminosity: Our Annual Group Glass Exhibition ♿
Stonington Gallery · 125 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104
October marks the fifth year of Luminosity, Stonington Gallery’s annual group glass exhibition. Centering Northwest Native glass artists alongside a broader group of glassblowers, the exhibition highlights glass as a rigorous, evolving discipline where technical mastery and cultural knowledge converge. Ideal for collectors, curious visitors, and dedicated PNW art appreciators alike, Luminosity offers a compelling view into the depth and momentum of the contemporary glass world. Artist Bio: Ed Archie NoiseCat (Shuswap/Stlitlimx – Interior Salish): Ed Archie NoiseCat, a Shuswap and Stl’itl’kemx artist, was raised in the mountainous interior of British Columbia, where a close connection to land, family, and story shaped his approach to making. Drawing from both his mother’s plateau culture and his father’s coastal lineage, he creates works that carry ancestral narratives through material, scale, and form. Whether monumental or intimate, his carvings and sculptural works reflect a lifelong commitment to craft, transformation, and the lived continuity of culture. Preston Singletary (Tlingit): Preston Singletary, a Tlingit artist of the Eagle moiety, Kaagwaantaan clan, merges formline design with contemporary glass to create work grounded in storytelling. Since the 1980s, his practice has redefined the possibilities of Indigenous art, using glass to carry forward lineage, identity, and tradition while challenging expectations of material. Through both his artwork and collaborations with Indigenous artists globally, Singletary continues to expand and affirm the evolving presence of Native voices in contemporary art. Dan Friday (Lummi): Dan Friday, a Seattle-based glass artist and member of the Lummi Nation, creates work rooted in cultural heritage, personal narrative, and the transformative power of making. Influenced by a lineage of Lummi artists and shaped through decades of experience with leading glassmakers, his sculptures—totems, baskets, salmon, and reefnet anchors—honor both tradition and lived experience. Through glass, Friday bridges cultural continuity and contemporary practice, using the material to reflect identity, resilience, and community. Raven Skyriver (Tlingit): Raven Skyriver, a Washington-born glass artist raised in the San Juan Islands, draws deep inspiration from the natural world, translating marine life into highly realistic, molten glass sculptures. Trained in Venetian techniques and shaped by collaborations with master artists like William Morris and Lino Tagliapietra, he works with skilled teams to create complex, large-scale forms. His work reflects both technical mastery and a reverence for nature, inviting viewers to consider the beauty and fragility of the ecosystems his subjects inhabit. Kelly O’Dell (Non-Indigenous): Kelly O’Dell, a Seattle-born artist raised on Hawaiʻi’s Big Island, draws from a childhood shaped by ocean life, artistic practice, and the complexities of a place marked by both ecological richness and colonial legacy. Trained in glass at the University of Hawaiʻi and further shaped through work at Pilchuck, her practice centers on themes of species extinction, conservation, and human impact on the natural world. Now based on Lopez Island, her work continues to reflect a life closely attuned to water, environment, and the fragile systems that sustain them.
Tacoma – Ode to Diligence: The Art of Jason McDonald ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
“Every piece I create, from the humblest tumbler to the most baroque sculpture, makes a statement about isolation, striving, access, perseverance, boundary pushing, and the pursuit of excellence. I believe my presence in the field as a working-class Black man, striving and excelling in a field occupied chiefly by society’s most privileged (whitest), is a powerful artistic and political gesture. “—Jason McDonald Glass vessels evocative of the highly ornamented Baroque style, black silhouettes embedded in scenes on ancient pottery vessels, and medallion reliefs of Black figures all abide in the deliberate, expansive practice of Jason McDonald. McDonald’s visual language is deeply rooted in research of ancient histories, traditional techniques, and race. Here, contemporary ideas blend and transform tradition with caring attention to detail, precision in thought, and beauty. Motivated by glass—with its magical properties, myriad possibilities and potential—McDonald’s devotion lies in the desire to refine the craft, making his hands more familiar and knowledgeable with each replication. Through his repetition and re-imagination of these historical forms, the objects transform into sculptures and vessels of time, carrying with them the essence of centuries-old traditions, as well as McDonald’s commitment and insertion of the representation and notions of Black identity. With a commitment to the craft that transcends his own work, McDonald diligently carves out space for those who will follow him through mentoring and the creation of his own glass studio, which he has named Ideal Conditions. Ode to Diligence: The Art of Jason McDonald is Jason McDonald’s first solo museum exhibition. McDonald is the 2026 awardee of The Current, An Artist Award. Artist Bio: Jason McDonald attended California College of the Arts on a merit scholarship where he received his BFA with Honors in Glass. Afterwards, he was awarded the Presidential Fellowship from Tyler School of Art and Architecture, earning an MFA. He has taught numerous workshops at world-class institutions including Penland School of Craft, Pilchuck Glass School, The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, and others. He was a contestant on the Netflix show Blown Away and collaborates with other artists and designers, including Solange Knowles’ brand, Saint Heron, for whom he designed and fabricated a line of stemware. Museum admission required.
Studio Art Glass at Tacoma Art Museum ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
A dynamic and long-term installation featuring visitor favorites alongside recent acquisitions and lesser-seen works chosen from the museum’s Studio Art Glass collection, highlighting works from the Rebecca and Jack Benaroya Collection. Organized by Tacoma Art Museum and curated by Ellen Ito and Jessica Wilks. Museum admission required.
Chihuly at Tacoma Art Museum ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
Over the course of his distinguished career, Tacoma native Dale Chihuly has emerged as one of the most prominent American artists of the last century. In honor of his family and his hometown, in 1990 he began donating a retrospective collection of his work to TAM, and these works are on permanent view. The presentation has been reimagined to highlight the color, variety, and drama of his sculptural forms. Museum admission required.
Granite Calimpong at Traver Gallery ♿
Traver Gallery · 1100 W. Ewing Street Suite 160, Seattle, 98119 98119
Granite Calimpong affirms his versatility as a sculptor, skilled in various media such as glass, ceramics, wood, metal, light, and photography. His emphasis on material exploration gives vivid and innovative expression to the unique qualities of each of his chosen materials. Artist Bio: Granite Calimpong received a BFA in Interdisciplinary Computing in the Arts and Music from UCSD in 2007 and completed his MFA in Sculpture at the University of Washington in 2019. While a graduate student at UW he explored perception and various visual phenomena associated with illusions through the use of wood, clay, glass, photography, and metal. During the decade before attending the UW, Calimpong worked predominantly in glass, maintaining his own studio practice, assisting various renowned glass artists in the Seattle area, and working as a fabricator helping several non-glass artists realize their ideas in the medium.
VETRI at West Canal Yards
Vetri · 1100 W. Ewing St, Seattle, WA 98119
Vetri will be showcasing artists working in glass, continuing its focus on material-driven work and the legacy of the studio glass movement. You’ll see a range of approaches, from functional objects to sculptural pieces. Visit the gallery to find beautifully designed, thoughtfully curated, handmade objects by emerging and established artists from the Northwest and internationally.
Visiting Artist Benjamin Cobb ♿
Museum of Glass · 1801 Dock Street, Tacoma, WA 98402
Visiting Artist Benjamin Cobb will demonstrate in the Museum of Glass Hot Shop during Refract 2026! Through 25 years of working in glassblowing, Benjamin Cobb has honed his mastery of glass, traveled across the globe, and worked with hundreds of artists. An East Coast transplant, Cobb holds a BFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has been a demonstrating artist at glass studios as far afield as Sweden, the Czech Republic, Italy, and France. He’s taught at Penland School of Crafts, Pilchuck Glass School, and many other glass programs in the US. He’s a recognizable leader and voice in the glass community and has contributed to the success of countless works of art. In his own work, Cobb draws inspiration from the natural world as well as scientific process. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Northwest Art in LaConner, WA, Museum of Glass, and dozens of galleries across the country. Cobb is the longtime director of the Museum of Glass Hot Shop. Museum admission required. Artist Bio:Through 25 years of working in glassblowing, Benjamin Cobb has honed his mastery of glass, traveled across the globe, and worked with hundreds of artists. An East Coast transplant, Cobb holds a BFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has been a demonstrating artist at glass studios as far afield as Sweden, the Czech Republic, Italy, and France. He’s taught at Penland School of Crafts, Pilchuck Glass School, and many other glass programs in the US. He’s a recognizable leader and voice in the glass community and has contributed to the success of countless works of art. In his own work, Cobb draws inspiration from the natural world as well as scientific process. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Northwest Art in LaConner, WA, Museum of Glass, and dozens of galleries across the country. Cobb is the longtime director of the Museum of Glass Hot Shop.
Dick Weiss at Traver Gallery ♿
Traver Gallery · 1100 W. Ewing Street Suite 160, Seattle, 98119 98119
Known for his formal explorations of color, light, and abstraction in leaded glass, Weiss winds a lively color palette and joyful juxtapositions of forms into this newest body of work. His unique use of negative space and clear glass invites architectural and natural surroundings to become an active and changing part of his compositions. Likewise, Weiss draws inspiration from such environments, referencing bending trees, stacked stone walls, and rocky tidal beaches in his vivid glass compositions. Artist Bio: Dick Weiss was born in Everett, Washington, and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University. He began teaching at Pilchuck Glass School in 1982, and has completed commissions for the Bellevue Art Museum, Washington, the Port of Shanghai, Shanghai, China, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Washington, and the University of Washington, Seattle. His work can be found in impressive collections around the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Corning Museum of Glass in New York.
Studio Art Glass at Tacoma Art Museum ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
A dynamic and long-term installation featuring visitor favorites alongside recent acquisitions and lesser-seen works chosen from the museum’s Studio Art Glass collection, highlighting works from the Rebecca and Jack Benaroya Collection. Organized by Tacoma Art Museum and curated by Ellen Ito and Jessica Wilks. Museum admission required from 10am to 5pm, free admission from 5pm to 8pm. Cost: $18 from 10am to 5pm, free admission from 5pm to 8pm
Tacoma – Studio Art Glass at Tacoma Art Museum ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
A dynamic and long-term installation featuring visitor favorites alongside recent acquisitions and lesser-seen works chosen from the museum’s Studio Art Glass collection, highlighting works from the Rebecca and Jack Benaroya Collection. Organized by Tacoma Art Museum and curated by Ellen Ito and Jessica Wilks. Museum admission required.
Tacoma – Chihuly at Tacoma Art Museum ♿
Tacoma Art Museum · 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
Over the course of his distinguished career, Tacoma native Dale Chihuly has emerged as one of the most prominent American artists of the last century. In honor of his family and his hometown, in 1990 he began donating a retrospective collection of his work to TAM, and these works are on permanent view. The presentation has been reimagined to highlight the color, variety, and drama of his sculptural forms. Museum admission required.
glassybaby – Artist Demonstration ♿
One of our artists will blow a one of a kind art piece, details forthcoming. Website: Not Ticketed details will be posted at a later date. https://www.glassybaby.com/pages/glassybaby-events
Open Artist Studio: Carol Milne ♿
Carol Milne · 13529 1st Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98125
Carol Milne knits glass. Although she’d like to say she knits with molten glass, alas, her work is cast, using the lost wax casting process. The process involves wax working (knitting, pouring and soldering), moldmaking using plaster and refractories, a kiln, dental tools and coldworking. For a preview of what you might see, check out her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-lY8F6ouv0&t=431s
Open Artist Studio: Everett Glassworks – Manolo Aguilera ♿
Everett Glassworks · 5818 Wetmore Ave, Everett, WA 98203
Visitors can expect a welcoming, live glassblowing demonstration. I’ll be working on traditional glassblowing techniques and sharing the process behind my sculptural cactus. Guests will have the opportunity to see finished work up close and connect directly with the story behind each piece. Artist Manolo Aguilera will be working on traditional glassblowing techniques and sharing the process behind his sculptural Cactus series. Guests will have the opportunity to see finished work up close and connect directly with the story behind each piece.
Open Artist Studio: Illuminata Art Glass Design
Illuminata Art Glass Design · 2815 Baker Avenue, Everett, WA 98201
Glass Artist + Lighting Designer Julie Conway recently relocated her studio to Everett. Julie welcomes visitors during the open studio tours on the North Side studio visit day, or by appointment during Refract Week. Julie creates her bespoke glass lighting installations with her glass teams & fabricators based in the Seattle/Everett area. Julie’s team members are an all-star cast of glass artists & will be exhibiting their personal glasswork alongside Julie at studio Illuminata.
Open Artist Studio: Jason Christian Glass ♿
Jason Christian Glass · 7721 13th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117
Visitors will see the wonders of a small studio in a residential neighborhood. They will get a chance to see me create vessels like my Yo-yos and dragons. They will also be able to walk around and see my finished work around the studio.
Open Artist Studio: Milo Snyder Studio
Milo Snyder Studio · 5417 Kensington Pl N, Seattle, WA 98103
Come see the full arc of the process in a working backyard studio — 3D modeling, printing demos, lost PLA casting, sculptures emerging from plaster molds, cold working. Then step inside the home where finished pieces are installed and experience the emotional power of sculptural lighting firsthand. I grew up around glass — my parents first met in a hot shop. My path to making was unlikely: chemical engineering, then data modeling. Those years taught me to see geometric possibilities in the material that I might not have found otherwise. I’m fascinated by glass’s ability to inhabit light, and light’s ability to transform a space and the people in it. I combine ancient casting methods with computational design to make sculptural lighting that is precise, geometric, and finished by hand. The work has been recognized in the Corning Museum of Glass’s New Glass Review, and continues to evolve.
Open Artist Studio: Morgan Madison Studio
Morgan Madison Studio · 10339 9th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98177
At Morgan Madison Studio you will find the artist exploring a rich variety of kiln forming and casting processes, alongside his work in complementary materials such as concrete, steel and wood. It is a bright studio full of colorful eye candy where serious play is the order of the day.
Open Artist Studio: Seymour Stained Glass ♿
Seymour Stained Glass · 5415 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
Karen Seymour finds that working with glass allows her to give functional form to the color and light she finds in nature. You will see glass tables, lamps, mirrors, vessels and fountains. Recent pieces reflect the challenge of representing the classical 4 elements: earth, fire water and air. Karen has been teaching her glass on glass applique process for over 20 years and has written a couple of books on it. Getting a kiln in 2013 allows her to also explore kiln-forming techniques. How different temperatures can be used to create different textures is a recurring focus in her work. She currently volunteers with the Pacific Northwest Glass Guild (PNWGlassGuild.org).
Open Artist Studio: Clawson Arts ♿
Clawson Arts · 2917 Hoyt Ave, Everett, WA 98201
This event showcases the vibrant work of Nick Clawson, a glass and multimedia artist based in the Artspace Everett Lofts. Guests are invited into an open‑studio experience where Nick—joined by friends and guest artists—will be bending neon glass cubes live, offering a rare look into his creative process. Artist Bio: Nick Clawson is a multidisciplinary glass artist living and working in Artspace Everett Lofts above Schack Art Center in Everett, Washington. His multichromatic work is based on the spiritual experience of light and color phenomena.
Luminous Forms – New Work by Mikey Cozza ♿
Gallery Mack · 2100 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Utilizing his exceptional knowledge of Venetian techniques, Cozza’s work explores the optical qualities of glass by manipulating color, texture and form. This newest solo exhibition will showcase new work that demonstrates his skillful use of reticello, cane work and murrine.