Creative Voice

Nancy Gong, Gong Glass Works

“As a young girl I was intrigued by the color and detail in Chinese artwork and day-to-day objects I grew up surrounded by,” says commissioned artist Nancy Gong of Gong Glass Works (GGW) based in Rochester, N.Y.. “I was the kid that wouldn’t shut up, always asking questions about what I saw [and] I enjoyed making beautiful things.”

Gong attended numerous workshops, including those focused on creating large-scaled art glass projects. “That was the turning point when I began to design from my own spirit in the present rather than recreating what was from the past.”

This October will mark her 30th year in commercial art.

Today her studio specializes in the design and fabrication of glass artwork including leaded, etched, carved, chipped and painted glass for residential, commercial and institutional applications. GGA is also the distributor for UltraGlas Inc. 

Q. What are the biggest changes you’ve seen to this market? 

A. For hundreds of years, the Europeans have been integrating walls of art glass into their architectural designs. In the 1950s, aside from ecclesiastic work, architectural art glass nearly died. In the United States, 30 to 40 years ago, there were occasional installations of an art glass window in a bathroom or door. Now, not only is architectural art glass being integrated into residential applications, but also in commercial, institutional and public spaces. And the spaces being specified for art glass are bigger. 

Today, art has become a winning solution. In addition to providing beauty and meaning, the art serves the architectural space in a functional way, controlling light and space. It plays a role in setting the tone while making the space memorable, bumping the project up a couple notches. 

Q. What makes glass products exciting or fun to work with?

A. Glass is a challenge to work with because it is such an “oooh and aah” material that catches the light. To me the challenge is to create a design that stands on its own without the sparkle, but lets the glass characteristics enhance the design. The fact that glass is a lasting medium that responds to the changing conditions presented by its architectural and interior design makes it a dynamic medium. It is always exciting to see how the art influences the feeling of its environment emotionally and physically through space, color and light. It is also a thrill to know that the art will be here for hundreds of years, long after my time.

Q. From where do you draw your inspirations?

A. My inspirations come from the use of and users of the space, themes or experiences presented by the architect, designer and client as well as my life experiences. I love that it is always different. 

Q. If you were not working as a glass artist what do you think you’d be doing?

A. No doubt, I’d be making art in some other medium. I can’t image not doing what I love.

 Decorative Glass
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