ABOUT THE ARTIST
BRANDON CUPP
I was 13 years old when I was introduced to molten glass for the first time. I was watching TV and came across a documentary on public television that immediately caught my attention. In the documentary, Lino Tagliapietra and Pino Signoretto, “the Masters of Venice” were working for Seattle-based glass designer, Dale Chihuly. As I watched these men manipulate and shape this fascinating glass material for the first time, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the medium. I dreamed of creating beautiful glass works like the maestro’s I saw in that documentary.​
At age 15, I took my first series of lessons at Seattle Glassblowing Studio and immediately fell in love with molten glass. I continued taking classes and spent as much time in the studio as possible to further my glass education. As my passion for the art form grew stronger and I became more skilled, it became hard for me to concentrate on anything else. All I wanted to do was create glass!
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By my junior year of high school, I had put my passion into action and received approval from the school district to implement a glass program at my high school. After assisting the art teacher, Melissa Misoda, for a couple of years while finishing school; I realized that my passion for glass could not be satisfied by continuing on with traditional schooling. So, I set out to become a professional glassblower and create my own education as an artist.
​I obtained my first job in Seattle working for one of the great glass artists of our time, Benjamin Moore. That entry level shop position opened up many other opportunities in the glass community and provided me with work at multiple glass shops, assisting artists, and teaching classes. In addition to my work experience, I've attended the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, WA on multiple occasions to further my glass knowledge and hands-on training. Recently, I also made the pilgrimage to Murano, Italy; the glass capital of the world, where I received private demonstrations and lectures from world famous maestro's of glass: including, Giancarlo Signoretto at the Abate Zanetti School of Glass.
I worked as the Lead Gaffer at Seattle Glassblowing Studio for many years where I was in charge of a team of artists that hand crafted a variety of production items for their gallery. Currently, I am a Lead Gaffer and Designer for Jack Pine Studio located in Hocking Hills, Ohio where I specialize in the production of a variety of items, including unique blown glass pumpkins.
Now I've set out to place my own mark in the glass community through launching my very own family run studio, Cupp Glass Creative.​
To all of the people and artists that have helped me in my pursuit to make my art…
Brandon sculpting molten glass at the Abate Zanetti School of Glass in Murano, Italy
"Glass is a strange medium... but in the creative hands of an experienced and knowledgeable craftsman, it is almost infinitely malleable."
- Glass: A World History Written by Alan Macfarlane & Gerry Martin.
Artists who have inspired me to create my own original glass work:
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Scott Benefield
Pino Signoretto
Kathy Grey
Paul Cunningham
Dante Marioni
James Nowak
Davide Salvadore
Scott Darlington
Richard Royal Nancy Callan
Luccio Bubbaco
Giancarlo Signoretto
Benjamin & Debra Moore
Martin Blank
Richard Marquis
Rick & Shelley Allen
Karen Willenbrink & Jasen Johnsen
Dan Dailey
Thank you!
Brandon Cupp