Andy Koupal

"Working with glass is both infinitely inspiring and challenging. My work is a cultivation of endless ideas met with countless hours of designing, making, scrapping, and restarting the process again and again. Through this, I aim to present the most honest, well-crafted version of that idea to myself and the audience."

As an artist and designer from Detroit, Andy takes inspiration from the exceptional as well as the everyday in the world around him. Sleek details in automotive design, post-war modernism, daily interactions, and architectural silhouettes are all parts of the cultural landscapes that Andy translates through the essence of glass.

Every piece Andy creates starts with a sketch and then moves to a gather of molten glass out of the furnace that is shaped and handmade with traditional glassblowing techniques. Andy also employs a wide range of approaches such as cold-working, mark making, surface treatments, and mixing his own recipes of glass color.

Andy holds a BFA from RIT's School for American Crafts and honed his skills working for many glass shops and businesses including The Corning Museum, Simon Pearce, and The Henry Ford. Andy has taught workshops across the midwest including UW Stevens-Point and has served as an adjunct faculty member at the College for Creative Studies since 2013.