Corning Museum of Glass

The groundbreaking exhibition ‘Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio’ opens to the public May 16, 2026. The show is the first survey exhibition of work by exceptional women artists working in glass in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. This trailer features the voices of several artists featured in the exhibition—Suellen Fowler, Audrey Handler, and Kathleen Mulcahy—who have contributed their oral histories to the Rakow Research Library. These personal narratives about their careers, passions, challenges, and triumphs will become part of our permanent collection, preserving their stories for future generations of glassmakers, researchers, and glass enthusiasts. Want to hear more directly from the artists? Become a Member at CMoG and join us on Friday, May 15 for a Members‑Only Opening Celebration! Audrey Handler, Kathleen Mulcahy, and Susan Stinsmuehlen‑Amend will be joining us in an artist panel as they share stories from the earliest days of the Studio Glass Movement. Be among the first to experience never‑before‑exhibited works and witness history as it’s being told! Meet the makers. Witness their stories. See the work that’s never been shown before. 🌟 Don’t miss your chance to be part of an unforgettable opening night! More info for our Opening Celebration at the link in our bio. The exhibition is on view to the public starting Saturday, May 16, 2026—exhibition is included in your admission ticket. The Museum is deeply grateful to Mary Spurrier for her partnership in amplifying the untold stories of women artists through her transformational support of ‘Tough Stuff’ and its related programming.

We’re thrilled to announce Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio, our major exhibition celebrating the women who were working in glass in the U.S. during the 1960s and ‘70s—the breakthrough decades of the American Studio Glass Movement. Organized by Tami Landis (@tami.landis ), Curator of Postwar and Contemporary Glass at CMoG, the exhibition opens May 16, 2026 and runs through January 10, 2027. As women’s histories continue to reshape long‑standing narratives in American art, Tough Stuff challenges the idea of studio glass as a “male‑dominated field” by foregrounding the stories of the trailblazers who shaped the movement far earlier—and far more extensively—than many accounts acknowledge. Spanning six decades (1960–today), the exhibition moves beyond the limited timeline often shown in past presentations. The American Studio Glass Movement has often been framed around a few makers and blown‑glass traditions—but the real story is much broader. Women artists across the country (and around the world) have been pushing glass in bold, innovative directions for decades. Tough Stuff brings their work together for the first time, highlighting the strength, skill, and legacy of the women who helped define contemporary glass. Featuring works from the Museum’s collection alongside key loans, Tough Stuff showcases how early experimentation ignited generations of innovation. The exhibition goes well beyond blown glass, highlighting techniques like fusing, slumping, flameworking, pâte de verre, mixed media, and more. The exhibition and related publication also illuminate the cultural, social, artistic, and gender dynamics of their time—revealing a fuller, more powerful story of glass in the United States. Mark your calendars! Our exhibition opening celebration will be Friday, May 15. More information coming soon!

We’re unboxing early—because the big moment is almost here. 📦👀 Curatorial Fellow @risepeacock is giving us a first look and sharing the inspiration behind the merch for ‘Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio!’  T-shirts, totes, notebooks, and more—all connected back to the stories in the exhibition, are now available in the Shops and online. 🛍️🔗 We hope to see you at our Members Opening on Friday, May 15, and/or the public opening on Saturday, May 16!  Come see it for yourself 🥹 and take a little of it home with you!   —————————————————— ‘Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio’ is the first survey exhibition of work by exceptional women artists working in glass in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s—the breakthrough decades of the American Studio Glass Movement.    American art in the 1960s was fueled by a climate of material and conceptual experimentation. During this decade, glass became a focus point for many artists in America, commonly ceramicists, who wanted to learn the limits and possibilities of glass within their own studios, rather than the limitations of glass being designed and fabricated in a factory setting. This shift in conception and practice fundamentally changed the American perception of glass as an artistic medium, giving rise to what we now recognize as the Studio Glass Movement.     ‘Tough Stuff’ champions the lives and critical early work of female artists, bringing into view their formal and material breakthroughs, historical impact, and profound conceptual frameworks in glass as an artistic medium. Visitors will discover how work from this period by female artists illuminates the broader social, cultural, and gender politics of the time. #womeninarts #toughstuff #artistsoninstagram #womenartists #womenglassartists

After weeks of anticipation, the countdown is almost over! 🤭🎉 The opening of our major exhibition, ‘Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio,’ is only few days away, so we are sharing the list of the remarkable artists featured in this show. 🌟 ‘Tough Stuff’ is the first survey exhibition dedicated to these exceptional women artists, whose groundbreaking work in the 1960s and 70s pushed material boundaries and introduced bold techniques, paving the way for future generations. The exhibition includes current works by select artists to present a more complete story of their accomplishments.  We’re honored to carry the legacy of these women forward in our permanent collection and archives, fostering a more inclusive understanding of the American Studio Glass Movement and inviting visitors to see glass in a new light. ⚡️ The exhibition will open to the public on Saturday, May 16.

Here are three reasons to book your Make Your Own Glass project soon 👀⬇️ 1️⃣ May 17 is the last day to make our Glass of Architects ornament, inspired by Vienna, 1900–1937 and our 2018 exhibition Dig Deeper, which explored modern architecture through glass. 🔎 2️⃣ Starting May 18, we’re launching the Ancient Glass Sculpture project, where you can create a glass souvenir inspired by objects from 350–400 CE. 🤭 3️⃣ And Members—you can make the Gold Optic Twist ornament anytime. It’s available year‑round! 🌟 Be a part of CMoG’s year of milestones and make your own glass! ❤️ Spots are limited, so reserve yours at the link in our bio.

Guess what! 🤭 We’re filming a behind‑the‑scenes episode of Glass in a Flash, where Michael and Katie follow one of the remarkable works featured in ‘Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio’ from our warehouse all the way to its installation in the gallery. ✨🎥 While that episode is in the works, we’d love for you to experience the exhibition in person on Friday, May 15 at 7 pm for the opening celebration! 🎉 Meet the artists and be among the first to explore their stories up close 💪 Become a Member and RSVP today! More info is available at the link in our bio. 🔗

The hottest summer series is BACK 🔥 Join us this July for Bring the Heat! 🗓️July 9, 16, 23, and 30 🕚11:30 am– 1 pm 📍the Amphitheater #BringTheHeat

We’re less than two weeks away from the opening of ‘Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio.’ 🌟 Audrey Handler began working with glass in 1965 at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Glass Lab, where she studied among the earliest wave of students from the new program. During here time there, she completed a fellowship at the Royal College of Art in London in 1968. She recalls long nights at the studio while also balancing the responsibilities of raising a family. After earning both her M.S. and M.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she transformed a nineteenth-century cheese factory into her own studio in 1970—one of the longest-running independent glassblowing studios in the country! Handler is a founding board member of the Glass Art Society and made history as the first woman to teach glassblowing at the Penland School of Crafts, amongst a few other craft schools. Through these contributions, Handler played a pivotal role in advancing glass as a medium for storytelling and self-expression.     Her sculptures often explore universal domestic themes, capturing moments that feel both familiar and surreal. A distinctive element of her work is the inclusion of small, hand-cast silver figures. These characters animate her compositions, interacting with oversized fruit to create whimsical environments. The contrast in scale introduces both humor and depth, emphasizing the complexity of family life while inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences.      Want to learn more? Join us for our Members Opening Celebration on May 15, where you’ll hear directly from Audrey Handler, Kathleen Mulcahy and Susan Stinsmuehlen-Amend as they share untold stories from their experiences as women working in the earliest days of the Studio Glass Movement. 🤩 You won’t want to miss this inspiring event! For more information and to RSVP, head to the link in our bio.

The 57th Annual Student Art Show opens today! 🎨   Stop in to the Auditorium at the Corning Museum of Glass to see work by more than 2,000 local students, featuring art from elementary, middle, and high school artists across the Corning area. The show runs May 5–10, and entry is free—no museum admission required.   🕐 Opening day: May 5, 1–5 pm 🗓️ May 6–10: 9 am–5 pm 🎉 Opening reception: May 7, 6–8 pm   Come by, take your time, and see what local students have been making! The space is truly magical we love getting to celebrate the next generation of artists. ❤️

As a laureate of @villa.albertine and @wanteddesign residency in New York, I had the opportunity to collaborate with the team of glassblowers at @corningmuseum . An intensive week of experimentation and production to explore new gestures, techniques, and the material’s physical properties. Thank to the support of @villa.albertine , @wanteddesign , & @fondationbettencourtschueller

Do you know what’s happening in this photo? 👀   Taken in 1988 at the International Glass Symposium in the Czech Republic, this image captures American artists Sonja Blomdahl, seated at the bench, and Paula Bartron demonstrating the incalmo technique in the hotshop.   Incalmo is a Venetian glassblowing process that joins two or more blown glass elements while hot to form a single, seamless vessel. The technique demands extraordinary control—steady hands, precise coordination, and strength—all qualities Blomdahl and Bartron exemplified in this moment.   We’re excited to share that both artists are featured in our upcoming exhibition ‘Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio,’ opening to the public on May 16.   Paula Bartron was introduced to glassblowing while studying ceramics in California in the late 1960s and went on to play a critical role in the development of studio glass education in Sweden, teaching for decades at Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts, and Design in Stockholm, a program she founded in 1974.   Sonja Blomdahl, trained at MassArt in the 1970s and later at Orrefors in Sweden, is known for her bold use of color using the incalmo technique. In the early 1980s, Blomdahl opened the first female run hotshop in the Seattle area, which she operated for many decades.    While their paths were distinct, both artists remained deeply connected to the international glass community—eventually crossing paths in moments like the one captured here.   Join us on May 16 to experience their work and stories in ‘Tough Stuff,’ and tag a friend you want to go see it with!

Visiting the Meat Chandelier @corningmuseum 1st Day of Artist Residency @corningmuseumstudio 📷 @theemilybubble