I’m an artist who works with glass – here’s how the physics and chemistry of glassblowing work

From colorful orbs to delicate spirals, heating and manipulating glass allows artists to create beautiful translucent sculptures.

By: Suzanne Peck, Rochester Institute of Technology, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: November 9, 2026

Words: 1,408

Last Updated: 3 hours, 20 minutes ago

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By Suzanne Peck, Rochester Institute of Technology

Glass as a material is full of contradictions. Depending on the form and use, glass can be fragile or strong, opaque or transparent, rough or smooth. The studios my colleagues and I teach and learn in, as glass instructors, echo this abundance of physical opposites. These environments are simultaneously immersive, complex, seductive and demanding.

When the studio is in action, you might hear glass breaking, hot metal …

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