Abelman Art Glass

Stuart Abelman is one of the pioneering artists of the American studio glass movement, with a career spanning decades of innovation in hand-blown glass. Trained in both fine art and glass, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University and later a Master of Fine Arts from UCLA.

After several years of teaching at the college level, Stuart founded Abelman Art Glass in Southern California in 1977 so he could devote himself fully to creating in glass.

His work is made entirely from hot molten glass, with color and pattern created within the glass itself rather than painted onto the surface. Many of the rich and distinctive colors associated with his work are produced through the use of gold, silver, and other precious metals.

Over the course of his career, Stuart has explored an extraordinary range of forms, including vessels, figurative sculpture, animals, reptiles and amphibians, limited-edition clowns, paperweights, perfume bottles, and Christmas ornaments.

His work is known for its strong sculptural quality, intricate internal patterning, and remarkable use of color. Even within familiar forms, each piece reflects the individuality and handwork that distinguish studio glass from mass-produced glass.

Stuart’s work has been included in museum, private, and celebrity collections, including the permanent collection of the Corning Museum of Glass. His ornaments have also been selected for display on White House Christmas trees.

Decades after founding his studio, Stuart Abelman’s work continues to be recognized for the technical skill, imagination, and distinctive use of color that have made Abelman Art Glass recognizable to collectors around the world.