Innovation and Tradition: Crafting the American Studio Glass Movement

In the mid-twentieth century, the American Studio Glass Movement fundamentally redefined glass from an industrial and utilitarian material into a medium for artistic expression. This lecture explores that shift, examining how artists moved the medium from the factory floor into the individual studio.

Focusing on the exchange between place and tradition, the talk highlights the Midwest — rich in industrial infrastructure, natural resources, and pioneering university programs — as a key incubator for this development. It also considers the influence of Italy’s centuries-old glassmaking tradition, which offered both technical grounding and ongoing inspiration.

Join Diane Wright, Senior Curator of Glass and Contemporary Craft at the Toledo Museum of Art, as she considers how regional industry, academic experimentation, and transatlantic exchange came together to shape a new generation of artists driven by material curiosity and creative ambition.

This event is free for GRAM members, and included with museum admission for non-members. Registration is required.

For more information, contact Visitor Services at 616.831.1000.