Commission an Artist
Our community includes a number of independent, regional glass artists that may be able to fix your item or create something custom for you. Pittsburgh Glass Center is not responsible for the work produced by these artists. All contact, payment, and pickup will be coordinated by you with the artist.
A range of different artists who accept commissions can be found below. You can reach out to any of the artists listed on this page individually. Feel free to send the same email to everyone, and they will follow up with you if the project works for them.
Repairing broken glass is tricky. It may seem straightforward, but it can be complicated based on the size of the object, the type and color of the glass, and the complexity of the break. Repairs start at $100 and many cost more to repair than the value of the item.
Pittsburgh Glass Center does not repair glass items on site. However, our community includes a number of independent, regional glass artists (see below) that may be able to fix your item or create something custom for you. Pittsburgh Glass Center is not responsible for the work produced by these artists. All contact, payment, and pickup will be coordinated by you with the artist.
William Haynes – Email
Mitchell Kile – Email
Ashley McFarland – Email
Dan Buchanan – Email / Website
Percy Echols II – Email / Website
Jaime Guerrero – Email / Website
William Haynes – Email
Drew Kail (Camp Copeland) – Email / Website
Mitchell Kile – Email
Julian Maturino (Salvador Alane) – Email / Website
Ashley McFarland – Email
Beyvan Schantz – Email / Website
John Sharvin – Email / Website
Jeff Sherman – Email / Website
Rebecca Smith – Email
Memorial artwork can be created to honor loved ones and pets by placing their ashes in glass objects. At Pittsburgh Glass Center, we are limited in what we can offer. The technical challenges of adding outside material to our glass and the unique emotional significance, mean that we don’t take on commissions with ashes as an organization, nor do we allow students to bring outside materials to add into their workshops. As an art form, glassmaking is a setting where things can break or don’t go as planned. If you wish to pursue having ashes incorporated into a glass piece, please refer to artists below.
Jaime Guerrero – Email / Website
William Haynes – Email
Mitchell Kile – Email
Julian Maturino (Salvador Alane) – Email / Website
Ashley McFarland – Email
Suggestions For Repairs And Commissioning A Piece Of Glass Artwork
Repairing broken glass is tricky. It may seem straightforward, but it can be complicated based on the size of the object, the type and color of the glass, and the complexity of the break. Repairs start at $100 and many cost more to repair than the value of the item.
Pittsburgh Glass Center is not responsible for the work produced by these artists. All contact, payment, and pickup will be coordinated by you with the artist.
Things to Consider Before Requesting a Repair
Knowing how much you are willing to spend for a custom or altered piece of glass artwork is one of the first steps. Bear in mind that each artist has a different system for pricing their work. Many artists will consider the cost of materials, cost of studio rental or time, time drafting or rendering an object, and the addition of a working wage. The resources needed to make items from glass, or even to repair objects, often exceeds expectations. Starting the conversation with a ballpark budget in mind allows artists to share the possibilities within your price range.
Repairing or commissioning a work of art takes time. Please plan accordingly when working with an artist. Due to the nature of most processes in glass, the artist needs ample time to properly create your item. Begin consultation early and have a good line of communication with the artist during the process. Tight deadlines may incur “rush” fees.
Take photos of the item that needs to be repaired. If you are commissioning a new work, have photos similar to your expectations, dimensions, and colors that will allow the artist to give you an approximate quote. Depending on the complexity of the commission or repair, an artist will set up a time with you for a consultation. Come prepared to the consultation with the broken item or photos and be flexible to other options the artist may present.
