Ryan Thompson is a Detroit based glass artist with 13 years of experience in this molten material. Ryan began blowing glass in 2011 at BGSU under glass artist Scott Darlington and Nadine Saylor. After receiving his BFA, Ryan worked as a studio artist at The Toledo Museum of Glass until 2017 when he relocated to Detroit and began working as a production glass blower at The Henry Ford Museum. In 2021 Ryan took over the role as Shop lead and master glassblower at THF, a position he still holds today.

 

In 2023 Ryan had the opportunity to participate in Season 4 of the hit Netflix series Blown Away, where he competed against 9 other skilled glass makers for a chance to win a prize package valued at $100,000. Ryan was a finalist on the series but in the end finished in second place.

 

Ryan recently has taken ownership of Gathered Glass Studio and Gallery in Toledo, Ohio where he plans to continue the establishment’s commitment to public outreach and community engagement while exploring his artist voice in glass