Hayden Wilson

Hayden Wilson grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina. As a second-generation glass artist, he has been around glass his entire life but didn’t focus on the material as a profession until after he graduated from UNC-Asheville with a BFA in sculpture.

Throughout his career he has played a dynamic role in the growth of the glass community in Western North Carolina. Working as the Studio Manager for the Asheville Glass Center for 6 years and North Carolina Glass Center for 3 years. He has volunteered at the Jackson County Green Energy Park to help build equipment, has taught at Penland School of Crafts and has continually worked with many artists in the area.

Hayden’s work is represented across the country at galleries including Habitat Gallery in Royal Oak Michigan and Blue Spiral 1 in Asheville NC. With his vast knowledge of glass, he often also works with clients to create custom glass and lighting for their spaces.

Currently Hayden owns and operates a private glass studio in Asheville North Carolina where he creates his work, which varies from utilitarian designs and decorative vessels to one-of-a-kind sculptures.

Hayden’s work takes a contemporary spin on traditional Italian glass blowing techniques. Murrine is a technique in which colored glass is layered on itself and pulled into long canes. These canes are then cut into small slices in cross section revealing the inside colors. These “murrines” are then rolled up into a cylinder to create the initial bubble and then expand when blown into the final piece.

Similarly, the Striated forms are made using straight canes of colored glass that is rolled onto a bubble and then twisted and manipulated to get the undulating striations.   Once the piece is finished being shaped in the hotshop it is then carved using diamond wheels once it is cold.