At the age of 13, Brad Smith was at camp and blew glass for the first time. He’s still at it and with glowing success. Brad’s glasswork is well known in the region … recognizable with dazzling colors like Amethyst Mix, Ocean Wave, Cobalt Twist, and Rainbow. And there are more, in fact, a crayon box of hues that hint at the variety in Brad’s work.
Brad grew up in Connecticut and fondly remembers how his glass journey began. It was the summer of 1998. He was 13 and spending time at Bucks Rock Performing and Visual Arts Camp in New Milford. “I was exposed to a variety of mediums, but the exposure to glass blowing there had the most impact,” says Brad.
After high school, Brad attended Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire to study glassblowing. He would continue learning his craft with apprenticeships and programs all over the country, including at the Appalachian Center for Craft in Tennessee, the Pitchuck Glass School in Washington, and the Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass in upstate New York.
In 2012, Brad moved to Santa Fe, where he worked for five years as a glassblower in that vibrant gallery scene, enjoying the close-knit community of glass artists. A few years later, in 2016, he moved to Asheville, where Brad has put down roots professionally and personally.
Today, Brad works as a staff glass blower at the North Carolina Glass Center in Asheville, in addition to anchoring Brad Smith Studio. The family-owned and operated business is a hot glass studio adjacent to the home he shares with his wife, Kendall White, a fiber artist, and their two children.
“Every object we offer is made start to finish in our small home studio, using all American-made tools and supplies, many of which are manufactured in Western North Carolina,” Brad’s proud to say.
Gallery of the Mountains carries a big assortment of Brad’s glassware, vases, and hanging ornaments. The vibrant and various colors available are too many to mention. There really is something for everyone.
