Laurie Thal

Laurie Thal moved to Jackson, WY in 1975 after graduating from the Art Institute of Chicago. She packed her car and moved west, hoping for a lifestyle that would allow her to practice her craft and enjoy the outdoor western environment. She started her own studio that year, refining her skills over time, working to create timeless classic vessels of simple beauty.

"I never thought I'd be able to make a living blowing glass," Thal said. She's done more than that, however, being commissioned by Hillary Clinton, then first lady, to create a unique glass ornament for the White House Christmas tree in 1997.

In 2002, her work was featured at the Governor's Capital Art Exhibition, and honor given to only 50 artists across the state of Wyoming each year. She also received the Wyoming Arts Council Fellowship Award for 2002. Her work is exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the country.

The process itself is like a dance, manipulating glass from furnace to workbench. The metamorphosis from color bar chunk to fragile creation is truly captivating. With the temperature approaching 2400 degrees, Thal shapes the glass into delicate bowls, vases, glasses, and perfume bottles with cherry wood blocks, layering color over color with a final gather of clear glass.