Glassblowing is both fragile and unforgiving, a craft that demands patience, precision and an ability to work in constant motion. For Norfolk-based glass artist Joshua Solomon, it is also a deep human practice, rooted in history, experimentation and the quiet discipline of making something by hand. Sculptural glass pieces and decorative objects designed not for utility but for presence, Solomon’s work is often displayed on a coffee table or illuminated in a cabinet, where light, color and texture fully interact.
“Glassblowing is a challenging craft,” Solomon says. “It takes a long time before you can make anything decent on your own. Rather than focusing on production or utilitarian objects, I focus on pieces that anchor a space — something unique to one’s home.”
Originally from California, Solomon now resides in Norfolk with his wife and their Russian Blue cat, Patty. The couple enjoy cooking, reading, long walks and sharing meals inspired by online food content. “I’d pick a favorite meal, but there are too many good ones,” Solomon says with a hearty laugh. “We get especially inspired by YouTube — you can see 18 different ways to cook the same dish.”
Solomon first encountered glassblowing at 19 while living at a youth hostel in Santa Barbara, California, where he worked in exchange for room and board. Just down the street was a gritty glass studio and a chance encounter that would alter his path. “There was a woman named Lydia who also worked at the hostel,” he recalls. “She had a blowpipe in the staff quarters. When I asked what it was for, she told me about glassblowing and offered to take me to the studio where she worked. The moment I walked in, I was completely hooked.”
After several months immersed in the studio, Solomon made the difficult decision to go to college in New York. “I honestly thought I would never go back if I didn’t do it then,” he says. Fortunately, he soon connected with a glass artist about 10 miles from campus. “We hit it off, and I ended up working for him throughout college and even after graduating, refining my craft.”
Years later, Solomon reconnected with a former assistant from that original Santa Barbara studio who had since purchased the business and relocated it to Virginia. In 2007, Solomon joined the newly established studio in Staunton, where he spent several years further developing his work before eventually settling in Norfolk.
Rather than working in a traditional production style, Solomon approaches glass as an evolving material with endless potential. “People have been working with glass for thousands of years,” he says. “There’s such a rich history to draw from and there’s no single right way to do something. American studio glassmaking only really began in the 1960s, so I’m part of the fourth wave of American glass artists.”
Each piece begins long before the furnace is lit. “I always start by gathering inspiration,” Solomon says. “I work with a lot of colors and textures, so I’m constantly taking photos on my phone — surfaces, light, anything that sparks an idea.” Once in the studio, focus becomes essential. “Glassblowing requires a serious game plan,” he says. “Things don’t just accidentally move in the right direction. I work in distinct series so I can explore and refine ideas over time. Glass can be pushed to look like almost anything, but I keep each series intentional, so it doesn’t become chaos.”
Color plays a central role in Solomon’s work. “I’m especially drawn to bright colors — rubies, golds, emeralds, sapphires, aquamarine and amethyst,” he says. “But I also love more restrained, neutral palettes. I layer powdered glass to create oxidized, organic textures and I like combining colors in ways that shift depending on how you move around a piece.” That interaction among material, maker and viewer is what keeps Solomon grounded in the work. “I love how this kind of practice taps into something deeply human,” he says. “Making something, putting it out into the world and trading it directly with another person is one of the oldest, most raw forms of exchange we’ve had for thousands of years.”
Working in a medium that allows little margin for error, Solomon approaches each piece with patience, craftsmanship and intention. Each piece balances heat and control, tradition and experimentation and is designed to be lived with over time.
TO THE POINT:
Joshua Solomon, Glass Artist
Phone: 516-603-9167
Email: JoshSoulman@hotmail.com
Website: jsolomonsolutions.com
