ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

CMoG Opens First Survey of Women in American Studio Glass Movement

exhibition · 2026-05-13

On May 16, 2026, the Corning Museum of Glass launched an exhibition called 'Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio' to mark its 75th anniversary. This is the first major showcase focusing on female artists from the American Studio Glass Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, featuring over 200 works from prominent figures like Claire Falkenstein, Audrey Handler, and Toots Zynsky, among others. Curator Tami Landis shared that the exhibit was inspired by conversations with artists about their experiences. It includes rare pieces from CMoG's collection and the Rakow Research Library, as well as loans, and explores gender politics and artistic techniques. Philanthropist Mary Spurrier is backing this project, which also involves an oral history initiative.

Key facts

  • Exhibition 'Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio' opened May 16, 2026 at Corning Museum of Glass
  • First survey of women artists in the American Studio Glass Movement (1960s-1970s)
  • Over 200 objects by artists including Claire Falkenstein, Audrey Handler, Margie Jervis, Susie Krasnican, Kathleen Mulcahy, Ginny Ruffner, Ruth Tamura, Toots Zynsky
  • Part of CMoG's 75th anniversary celebration
  • Curated by Tami Landis, Curator of Postwar and Contemporary Glass at CMoG
  • Includes never-before-displayed works from CMoG's permanent collection and Rakow Research Library
  • Rakow Research Library's Oral History initiative will make first-person accounts available
  • Supported by a gift from Rochester-based philanthropist Mary Spurrier

Entities

Artists

  • Claire Falkenstein
  • Audrey Handler
  • Margie Jervis
  • Susie Krasnican
  • Kathleen Mulcahy
  • Ginny Ruffner
  • Ruth Tamura
  • Toots Zynsky
  • Joan Reep
  • Marvin Lipofsky
  • Patricia Esch
  • Ann Wolff
  • Paula Bartron
  • Flo Perkins
  • Ruth Yone Tamura
  • Helen Lee

Institutions

  • Corning Museum of Glass
  • Rakow Research Library
  • Alfred University
  • California College of Arts and Crafts
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison Glass Lab

Locations

  • Corning
  • United States
  • Alfred
  • New York
  • Oakland
  • California
  • Rochester
  • Berkeley
  • Colorado
  • Kosta
  • Sweden

Sources