Paul Stankard photographed at WheatonArts, where he was honored for his 80th birthday in 2023. photo: andrew page

Wednesday October 7, 2026 | by Andrew Page

In Memoriam: Paul Stankard (1943 – 2026)

Master glass artist Paul Stankard passed away on the morning of Tuesday, October 6, 2026, surrounded by family at his Mantua, New Jersey, home tucked away on several wooded acres. Just next door stands the modest studio building where Stankard spent more than half a century redefining the American botanical sculpture, crafting startlingly lifelike flowers from flameworked glass, then encasing them in various clear glass forms ranging from orbs to standing rectangles. Where the paperweight historically had been a production item, Stankard took a different approach, making one-of-a-kind depictions of American wildflowers, complete with roots and accompanied by berries, insects, and nuts. These variations came later in his long and productive career, which began after he started experimenting with creative expression in flameworked glass, eventually leaving his first career as a scientific glassblower behind in 1972 to work exclusively on his artwork.

Tuesday October 6, 2026 | by Irene Angeletti

Trifecta Glass Art Lounge, a hybrid studio and bar, could be named the best speakeasy in the US by readers of USA Today

Between the years 1920 and 1933, anybody who produced, imported, transported, or sold alcoholic drinks in the U.S. could face fines, imprisonment, or both. Despite the risks, secret drinking establishments cropped up in the back of restaurants, shops and other businesses. Known as “speakeasies,” these illicit bars flourished as the adventurous sought an escape from the restrictions of Prohibition. Fast forward a century later, and today anyone 21 or over is free to consumer alcohol. Yet the era when drinking required a sense of adventure and willingness to break the law hasn't lost hold of the public imagination. For one glass studio in Lexington, Kentucky, nostalgia for the speakeasy has become a way to enhance their engagement with glassmaking and present a unique blend of art, craft, and glamour to their patrons.

Tuesday September 29, 2026 | by Irene Angeletti

Dale Chihuly, Tanja Pak, and Lino Tagliapietra receive top awards at Venice Glass Week 2026

After days of deep immersion into the artistic world of glass, the 10th edition of The Venice Glass Week came to an end with its usual awards ceremony, which took place on the evening of September 17th, at Palazzo Franchetti. The event featured recognition and celebration, as well as the presentation of three major prizes.

Tuesday September 22, 2026 | by Irene Angeletti

After a $785,000 renovation, the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass has improved accessibility in more ways than one

The Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass in Neenah, Wisconsin, has officially completed a $785,000 renovation--the first in 35 years. After months of work, the museum reopened to the public on June 27, 2026, with upgraded technology and accessibility aimed at elevating its visitors' experience while also preserving the historical importance, vintage character, and charm that have defined the museum since it opened in 1959.

139 4 Contemporary Glass September 2026 Marvin Lipofsky Igs Vii 3 Rago Auction

Marvin Lipovsky, IGS VII #3, 2000-02. Mold-blown glass, cut, sandblasted and acid-polished. H 13½, W 19⅜, D 16 in. courtesy: rago auctions, lambertville, nj

Tuesday September 15, 2026 | by Irene Angeletti

Rago's upcoming September 17 contemporary glass sale is a love story in more ways than one

According to their daughters, the late art collectors Jules and Conney Kay, of Rydal, Pennsylvania, kept their long marriage strong through their shared love of collecting art, including glass.

Glass Bateo 2024 Consorzio Promovetro Murano Ph Credit Zeta Group 07Bc28B8B1 2

Wednesday September 9, 2026 | by Irene Angeletti

An expanded Venice Glass Week opens on September 12 with more exhibitions, new workshops, and a bid for international importance

The Venice Glass Week 2026 is about to begin and, for its tenth consecutive edition beginning on September 12, the city of Venice and its surroundings will once again open their doors to this international week-long festival entirely dedicated to glass. Launched in 2017, the event started small, envisioned as a way to celebrate and value the material that has shaped the city's history and identity—and rooted in centuries of glassmaking tradition. Ten years later, the festival has grown far beyond its original vision and is making a bid for greater international prominence.

David Gutierrez in the Hot Shop

Thursday August 20, 2026 | by Sahana Ramakrishnan

David Gutierrez Wins the 2026 Ron Desmett Memorial Award from the Pittsburgh Glass Center

David Gutierrez has been awarded the 2026 Ron Desmett Memorial Award for Imagination with Glass, presented by Pittsburgh Glass Center. The award recognizes artists whose work embodies creative risk-taking, curiosity and an unconventional approach to glass. The winner receives $3,000 in studio time and an equal amount as a monetary award.

Tanja Pak Rêverie 2022 Photo By Suemasa Mareo

The grand prize-winning work from 2024 was Tanja Pak's rêverie (2022). photo: suemasa mareo

Thursday August 13, 2026 | by Lilla Johnson

CALL FOR ENTRIES: The Toyama Glass Art Museum seeks applications for its juried triennial exhibition in 2027

Entries to the Toyama International Glass Exhibition 2027 are now open to artists around the globe.

Render of the DL&W terminal, courtesy Rob Cassetti

Thursday July 30, 2026 | by Lilla Johnson

An all-electric glass studio will open in Buffalo in 2028 if former Corning Museum strategist Rob Cassetti's vision is realized

Less than five years after retiring as the Corning Museum of Glass Senior Director of Creative Strategy and Visitor Engagement, Rob Cassetti is getting back into glass, but this time it's in Buffalo, New York. It all started in 2018, when his project to commemorate the historic 1868 relocation of the Brooklyn Flint Glass Works from Brooklyn, New York, to Corning (where it would be renamed Corning Glass Works) took off. Because many parts of the business were shipped via canal, Cassetti wanted to honor the historic move with his “GlassBarge” project, which brought a floating glass hotshop to multiple stops along the canal to celebrate the wonders of hot glass. Among the stops that year was a two-day stint in Buffalo, which awakened his interest in this city, where, after years of decline, things are improving. The city recently turned the tide and saw net population growth for the first time in 70 years according to The New York Times.

Icehenge by Frank Gehry at the Inland Steel building in Chicago, IL. courtesy: freedman auctions, chicago

Friday July 24, 2026 | by Lilla Johnson

Frank Gehry's one-of-a-kind 'Icehenge' desk sells at auction for $243,200

On July 25, 2026, the late Frank Gehry’s (1929-2025) Icehenge desk went to auction at Freeman’s Auction in Chicago. Selling for $243,200 to an unknown buyer, the desk exceeded the estimate of $100,000–$200,000. The desk broke the record as the highest paid for a work of design by Gehry. In a public statement, Freeman' department head of design Roger Ward said: “The buyer is also dedicated to maintaining public access to Icehenge and is considering a temporary loan to a suitable museum or institution. Currently, no specific plans have been finalized.”