In college, Joe Grant was seduced by the power of glass. Today the North Carolina glass blower is known for his high-end, thoughtfully designed, hand-crafted glass objects.
Artist: The Illinois native grew up in Champaign and studied glass at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Grant earned an MFA at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. He lives and works in North Carolina.
Company/studio: Joe Grant Glass/Starworks Glass is based in Star, NC. Grant started at Starworks as director of the glass studio in April 2014. It is also where he makes his personal artwork.
The glass studio, located in a former textile mill building, is 45 minutes from Grant’s home in Greensboro. It also is part of a larger nonprofit arts space with programs in glass, ceramic and metal. There are galleries and a café in the building as well.
In the beginning: As an undergraduate, Grant thought he was going to be an industrial designer. But when he walked into the college’s hot shop for the first time, he was mesmerized by the material.
“Watching it go from a liquid to a solid and back again using extreme heat seduced me,” said Grant. “Here I am 20 something years later still melting the stuff!”
Grant also was struck by the teamwork required to execute something well in the glass studio. “I felt like I had found my tribe,” he said, adding that it takes years of practice and hands-on training to start using glass effectively.
Art & materials: Glass to make functional glassware, decorative objects and one-of-a-kind sculptures.
What’s popular:
- Thumb cups ($50 each).
- Mist vases ($175 to $250).
- Lenticular vases ($800).
- Glass spools ($190 to $250).
Other favorites:
- “Reverie,” a wall piece made from Sunbrella solution, dyed acrylic, glass, wood and LED lighting ($2,200).
- “Painted Jezebel,” made of glass and steel ($2,400). The piece resembles glass butterfly wings.
Favorite tool: Tweezers. Used to squeeze, twist, stretch and shape molten glass.
Inspirations:
- Venetian glassblowing from the 1800’s.
- Contemporary art.
- Glass artists, including: Josiah McElheny, Jack Wax, Stephen Powell, Lino Tagliapietra, Richard Marquis, Judith Schaechter, Rene’ Lalique and Erwin Eisch.
Special commissions: A series of glass urns for Endswell in Hillsborough, NC. The company offers water-based cremations called aquamations.
Recent project: Designed and produced a limited run of 200 colorful glass pinecones in partnership with the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Arberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau for its Pinecone Pathways Program.
The glass-blown pinecones were hidden along trails throughout Moore County from March 20 through May 31, 2023.
What’s next:
- Teaching a glassblowing class at the Penland School of Craft. June 4-18.
- Exhibition at Frank Gallery, in Carrboro, NC. Aug. 8-Sept. 23.
Where to buy: joegrantglass.com. Also at galleries, including:
- Alma’s Gallery and Shop, Richmond, VA.
- School House Gallery at Starworks, Star, NC
- GreenHill Center for NC Art,Greensboro, NC
- Frank Gallery, Carrboro, NC –
Get social:
- Instagram: @joegrantglass and @starworksglass