6th Michigan Regional Glass Exhibition
Pictured Above: Artwork from past exhibits by Andy Koupal, Shawn Messenger, Alan Iwamura, Albert Young, Marc VandenBerg, David Helm, Adam Thomas, Matthew Paskiet & John Wood.
Exhibit Dates: May 3 – June 24, 2026
Opening Reception: Sunday, May 3, 1 – 4 p.m.
GLASS ARTISTS: CALL FOR ART IS COMING IN MARCH!
Step into a world where fire meets form in the 6th Michigan Regional Glass Exhibit, a captivating showcase of sculptural and functional glass works that celebrate the depth, diversity, and innovation of glass artists from across the Michigan/upper Ohio region. Curated in partnership by Michigan Hot Glass and the Janice Charach Gallery, this juried exhibition brings together a dynamic range of pieces, from intricate vessels that blend utility with beauty to bold, conceptual sculptures that challenge the boundaries of the medium.
This year’s exhibit, juried by renowned artists Ryan Thompson and Andy Koupal, highlights the rich tradition and evolving future of glassmaking. Awards will be presented to outstanding artists whose work demonstrates exceptional craftsmanship, creativity, and vision.
Join us in celebrating the vibrant Michigan Regional glass community and the artists who continue to shape and redefine glass art.
ABOUT THE JURORS
Andy Koupal is a Detroit based artist who has over 15 years of experience working with glass. He received a BFA in 2009 from RIT’s School for American Crafts and honed his abilities while working for many shops and institutions including Simon Pearce, The Corning Museum and most recently The Henry Ford, where he worked full-time for 10 years as a production glassblower and managed the Glass Shop from 2018-2021. Currently, Andy co-owns and operates out of a hot glass studio in Detroit, MI and serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at the College for Creative Studies, a position he’s held since 2013.
An Ohio native, Ryan Thompson found his passion in glass at Bowling Green State University, where he focused on vessel and goblet making. He served as an instructor and glassblower at the Toledo Museum of Art, working with world-renowned glass artists. Soon after, Ryan became the shop lead at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI. In 2023, Ryan was featured in Season 4 of the Netflix series Blown Away, which launched his career as an artist.He now owns and operates Gathered Glass, a public glass studio that offers glassblowing workshops and handmade glass in the heart Toledo.
In the Upper Gallery: “The Tchotchke Show”
Curated by Niko Dimitrijevic, this playful and thought-provoking exhibition reimagines the humble tchotchke, those small, often overlooked objects that fill our shelves, homes, and memories. Far more than souvenirs or curios, tchotchkes carry layers of personal history, cultural symbolism, and kitsch charm. Through a diverse range of works, participating artists transform these everyday keepsakes into art that blurs the line between the sentimental and the absurd, the decorative and the profound. The exhibition invites visitors to reconsider the value of objects often dismissed as trivial, highlighting how they reflect identity, nostalgia, humor, and the stories we tell about ourselves.
With Dimitrijevic’s curatorial vision, Tchotchke becomes more than a collection of trinkets, it’s a celebration of memory, meaning, and the beauty found in the seemingly ordinary.
Pictured: “A Wish” by Niko Dimitrijevic
IN MEMORIAM: Albert Young
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Albert Young, founder of Michigan Hot Glass and curator of the Michigan Regional Glass Exhibit. Nolan Young, son of Albert, continues the legacy of Michigan Hot Glass’ partnership and the Michigan Regional Glass Exhibit.
“Albert was a creative force during his lifetime, a man of enormous talents, and loved deeply by many. He was an internationally renowned artist by profession who created, owned, and operated Michigan Hot Glass Workshop, the oldest operating independent glassblowing school in Michigan (est. 1983). Albert was an object maker, ceramicist, glassblower, and sculptor; always the consummate educator, willing to share his depth of knowledge with those who were willing to listen and were fortunate to be in his circle.” -Michigan Hot Glass
