Behind the Glass: Visiting Artist Edgar Valentine

Behind the Glass: Artist Demo Night
Friday, September 25 | 6 PM

Water Street Glassworks welcomes Edgar Valentine back to WSG as our next Visiting Artist. Valentine first visited Water Street Glassworks in 2021 and returns this fall for a multi-day residency that includes working directly with our FIRED UP! teen artists, teaching an advanced sculptural glass class, and sharing his work with the community during a special Behind the Glass Artist Demo Night on Friday, September 25 at 6 PM.

Raised in Tacoma, Washington, Valentine was introduced to glassblowing at just 12 years old through Hilltop Artists, the youth glass program founded by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. A year later, he joined the program’s production team, gaining regular access to the hot shop and opportunities to study with accomplished glass artists throughout the Seattle area. These early experiences opened his eyes to the possibilities of glass and helped shape what would become a lifelong commitment to the medium.

Drawing inspiration from street art, fashion, African American history, and the natural environment of the Pacific Northwest, Valentine creates both sculptural and functional glasswork. His work combines strong technical skill with a contemporary approach to form, color, and storytelling. He later brought his talents to a national audience as a contestant on Netflix’s Blown Away.

“Glass art came into my life at a young age. I was 12 years old when I took my first class through the Hilltop Artist program. As a 7th grader, I had no clue how far this lifestyle would take me. My first advanced glass sculpting class was in 2011, and that was when I truly fell in love with the medium. I have always loved creating with my hands. I developed such a deep connection with the material when I was in high school attending Tacoma School of the Arts. To this day, glass art is more than just my passion. It’s my life.”
— Edgar Valentine

Valentine’s return to Water Street Glassworks has a particularly meaningful connection to FIRED UP! The inspiration for FIRED UP! came from Dale Chihuly’s Hilltop program, where Valentine began his own journey in glass. His time with our students offers them the opportunity to learn from an accomplished working artist who began much as they did—with access to glassmaking, mentorship, and the opportunity to discover where their creativity could take them.

Behind the Glass: Artist Demo Night
Friday, September 25 | 6 PM
Water Street Glassworks

Watch Edgar Valentine at work in the hot shop as he demonstrates his sculptural approach to glass, shares insight into his creative process, and brings his distinctive work to life.