Celebrating the Contributions of Women in Glassmaking

Women Make Glass marks the first show of its kind dedicated to showcasing 15 women glass artists from the PNW, together in one space. Their collective contributions to the studio glass movement are singular. Women broke into the glass scene about 30 years ago, and the Women glass artists of the PNW were at the forefront, shattering the status quo and blowing minds by experimenting with more sculptural methods.

Artists featured: Cappy Thompson, Jenny Pohlman & Sabrina Knowles, Debora Moore, Kait Rhoads, Karen Willenbrink – Johnsen, April Surgent, Carol Milne, Jen Elek, Morgan Peterson, Raya Friday, Megan Stelljes, Bri Chesler, Nancy Burgess, Lydia Boss

Historically, glassmaking was considered unsuitable for women due to its physically demanding nature—working with molten glass, heavy tools, and extreme heat. Male-dominated studios and societal expectations further reinforced the belief that women were better suited for more "feminine" or domestic forms of art. However, many women broke through these barriers, defying cultural norms and excelling in the craft despite the challenges.

A CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY IN ARTISTRY:

The artists showcased in “Women Make Glass” are each expanding the possibilities for the medium through their diverse working styles, unique concepts, and versatile approaches to this fluid medium. The exhibition features blown glass, cast glass, engraving, and sandblasting, showcasing the depth and range of approaches in modern glass art. Many of the artists in Women Make Glass have developed new methods and techniques to bring their creative visions to life, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in this dynamic medium. Their works are deeply personal, reflecting the perspectives, ideas, and experiences of women working with glass today. Whether through bold sculptural techniques or intricate, delicate designs, each of these women has made glass distinctly their own. 

A REFLECTION and REFRACTION OF LIGHT:

Women Make Glass invites the viewer to consider how these innovative artists have impacted glass, but also to see in each work the promise and possibilities that lie ahead for the next women artists who shape the medium. Like glass itself, this exhibition is an opportunity to bend, reflect, and shine a light on the future of the medium in the hands of women artists.

Biographies

BRI CHESLER specializes in sculptural installations that integrate glass techniques with diverse media. Drawing on formative experiences from the Florida swamps, Chesler incorporates nature's chaotic elements into her maximalist aesthetic, inviting audiences into a dialogue of desire and transformation. Her distinguished work has garnered a 2019 Pilchuck Emerging Artist-in-Residence, a 2020 Hauberg Fellowship, and a solo exhibition at the Museum of Glass in 2024. https://brichesler.com

LYDIA BOSS work investigates themes of identity, time, and nature through a millennial lens. Surfaces and experiences are manipulated in her work through the use of glass, photography, and new media. Her work has been exhibited internationally, and she has been a resident artist at The Museum of Glass and Pilchuck Glass School. She is also a past recipient of the John and Mary Shirley Award from Pratt Fine Arts Center. http://www.lydiaboss.com

NANCY BURGESS is a Dakota, Umpqua(Grand Ronde) basket weaver and recent Artist in Residence at Pilchuck Glass School, where she was introduced to a wide variety of ways to express her creativity through glass, prints, as well as casted and blown glass baskets, hats, and cups. https://artisttrust.org/artists/nancy-burgess/

JEN ELEK is a vibrant contemporary glass artist whose work breaks the barriers that have kept glass in the realm of craft. Jen studied with Michael Scheiner, Dante Marioni, and Ann Wahlstrom at the Pilchuck Glass School and Lino Tagliapietra at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. Elek has assisted glass artists such as Dale Chihuly, Kiki Smith, Preston Singletary, Lino Tagliapietra, and others. https://www.travergallery.com/artists/jen-elek/

RAYA FRIDAY is a member of the Lummi Nation, whose tribal lands are situated on the edge of the Salish Sea near Bellingham, Washington. Friday earned a degree in glass sculpture at Alfred University in New York while working as a technician and instructor at the renowned Corning Museum of Glass. Raya also holds a humanities degree in Indigenous Studies from Evergreen State College. Her work explores how the haunting vocabulary of glass amplifies and encapsulates her community's historical and contemporary issues. https://stoningtongallery.com/artist/raya-friday/

SABRINA KNOWLES and JENNY POHLMAN have collaborated since 1993. As seekers, they have undertaken six international two-month journeys to create works that speak of our shared humanity. Among their many awards are Pratt Fine Arts Center's Service in the Arts Award 2011 and Service in Education Award 2000. Their work is in the museum and institutional collections from Bainbridge to Boca Raton, New Bedford to Mobile, among many more. https://www.pohlmanknowles.com/profile/biography/

CAROL MILNE was born in Canada but raised in many places before settling in Seattle. She has a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture and has devoted four semesters to a master's degree in sculpture before moving on. Her work in glass began at Pratt Fine Arts Center in 2000. In 2006, she merged her love of knitting, sculpture, and cast glass to create "knitted glass."  https://www.carolmilne.com/

DEBORA MOORE uses glass-like paint to achieve depth of color, working with the material's inherent ability to transmit and reflect light and its variations from transparency to opacity. By combining new techniques with traditional glassblowing skills and passionate attention to form detail, Moore expresses a vision rooted in reality but which springs from the imagination. https://www.deboramoore.com

MORGAN PETERSON is the winner of Season 4 of the Netflix Original series Blown Away; graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a dual degree in 2006. Upon completing her degrees, she relocated to Seattle to pursue a career in the arts. She has worked alongside Buster Simpson and Bruce Mau. She is a full-time team member for Dale Chihuly and is a member and instructor at Pratt Fine Arts and Pilchuck Glass School. https://www.themorganpeterson.com/about-1

KAIT RHOADS uses traditional Italian glass techniques as a base to create sculpture, design, public art, and limited edition jewelry inspired by nature. She received a Fulbright grant to study sculpture in Murano, Italy. Her collections include the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Corning Museum of Glass, the Palm Springs Art Museum, the Tacoma Art Museum, the Tacoma Museum of Glass, and the Shanghai Museum of Glass. https://kaitrhoads.com

MEGAN STELLJES reinterprets commonplace objects and imagery to evade the viewer's taboos and engage in a camouflaged yet frank dialogue about sex, sexuality, sexual health, and consent. The cultural contrast between a conservative Midwest upbringing and a looser adopted home of the Pacific Northwest tempers the pervasive sexual undertones throughout her creativity. https://www.meganstelljes.com

APRIL SURGENT'S art is rooted in observation and research, addressing climate change, vulnerable ecosystems, and the social issues surrounding these challenges. For over two decades, she has redefined the traditional craft of cameo engraving through contemporary approaches. Her work has earned a Behnke Foundation Neddy Fellowship and USA Ford Fellowship, and her works are part of collections at Iowa State University, the Toledo Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.https://www.aprilsurgent.com/bio.html

CAPPY THOMPSON has been painting glass since 1976. She started her career as a stained glass painter and became internationally recognized for her reverse-painted narratives on glass using the grisaille (or gray-tonal) painting technique. Her works have been shown and collected internationally. Recent works include architectural-scale public art installations in painted glass at Sea-Tac Airport, The Museum of Glass in Tacoma, and other Public sites. https://www.travergallery.com/artists/cappy-thompson/

KAREN WILLENBRINK-JOHNSEN worked with the glass masters in Murano, Italy, before starting my 35-year relationship with the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle. She has had featured residencies and taught workshops in 15 countries. Her sculptures often capture the essence of living things, aiming to freeze moments in time and convey the depth and dimension of the natural world. Color, texture, and reflection are central to her sculptures, often requiring several days of torch and furnace work. https://willenbrinkjohnsenglass.com/pages/about