William Morris

Who is William Morris?

William Morris is an American glass artist who has been able to change the history of art within his lifetime. He was educated at California State University, Chico, California and Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington.

Career

William Morris began his glass career as a truck driver for Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, Washington, where he was first introduced to the material. He then learned the art of glass making and eventually became an instructor at Pilchuck Glass School. Early in his career he was head gaffer for Dale Chihuly. By the mid 1980s, he bagan making work on his own. He has developed his work in collaboration with artists like Ross Richmond, Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen, Jon Ormbrek, Rik Allen, Randy Walker and Trumaine Mason. Morris and his team maintained the William Morris Studio, WA, throughout its duration. Morris also spent time in the late 1980s in Italy learning from Venetian masters.

Morris' work is an attempt to add to the archeological record of humankind. Instead of focusing on glass's natural beauty, he uses the medium's ability to transform into wood, bone, fiber, and sinew.