George O'Grady
In May of 1993 I was introduced to glass as an art medium. During the first 2 years I concentrated specifically on establishing a strong foundation in contemporary glass beadmaking. My handmade beads, in the form of loose beads and incorporated into wearable glass art, can now be found in galleries, jewelry stores, and bead shops across the country.
After several requests for individual lessons in glass bead making (known as Lampwork), I began teaching both individual lessons as well as occasional group seminars.
In the spring of 1994, I joined a group of glass artists at Tesuque Glassworks, located in Tesuque, New Mexico. Initially I worked as an assistant; I am now a member of the artisans, earning time in which to create my own blown glasswork. My artwork is available in galleries and museum shops nationwide. I have also worked with Peet Robison in his studio in La Cienega, New Mexico.
In the winter of 1995, I began creating glass marbles. Each is handmade using a torch. I now create marbles, beads, and pendants. My latest venture on the torch is lampworked glass spinning tops. My glass blown work includes one-of-a-kind vases, bowls, tumblers, paperweights, and most recently, glass platters.
Currently, I am working with Efftre glass (a soft glass made only in Venice, Italy), furnace glass (used in blown work such as decorative bowls, vase, and paperweights), and Borosilicate, commonly known as Pyrex, a very hard type of glass that hails from Corning, New York.
Like so many artists, I’ve had no formal schooling in my medium. Rather, I’ve gained great knowledge from other glass artists in New Mexico and throughout the United States. Contemporary art, abstract art, surrealism, and pop art, as well as rock and roll, blues, and big band music heavily influence me. I am a member of the New Mexico Bead Society, the Glass Art Society, the Arizona Society of Glass Beadmakers, and the Society of Glass Beadmakers. It is my hope that you enjoy my work and follow me as I continue to grow and explore in glass.