There’s something poetic about experiencing glass art in a space dedicated to wine. Both mediums require heat, patience, and an artist’s touch. Both transform raw materials into vessels of beauty and meaning. And both invite us to slow down, look closer, and savor what’s before us.
This January, we’re thrilled to present The Contemporary World of Glass, an extraordinary exhibition born from a collaboration between EPPICHarts and Public Glass of San Francisco. Showcasing works by more than two dozen accomplished glass artists, the exhibition transforms our gallery into a luminous exploration of one of contemporary art’s most dynamic mediums.
What Makes Public Glass Special? Three Decades of Artistic Excellence
At the heart of this collaboration is Public Glass, an organization that has spent 30 years redefining what a working glass studio can be. Founded as a cooperative studio in San Francisco, Public Glass has become a cultural cornerstone—a place where artists, students, and curious visitors gather around the furnace to witness transformation in real time.
What makes Public Glass truly remarkable is its commitment to accessibility. As a nonprofit arts organization, their mission centers on breaking down barriers and ensuring that glass art isn’t confined to elite circles. They’ve built bridges across Bay Area communities, invested in education, and nurtured generations of artists who push the boundaries of what glass can express. Through classes, demonstrations, and open studio time, they’ve kept the flame of glass artistry burning bright for three decades.
Their work matters beyond the studio walls. Public Glass preserves and advances the creative culture that San Francisco is known for—connecting people through the universal language of making, seeing, and experiencing art together.
What Can You Expect to See at The Contemporary World of Glass?
The Contemporary World of Glass explores glass not as decoration, but as a language. The featured works bridge craft and fine art, design and innovation, tradition and radical experimentation. Each piece reveals the material’s paradox: glass is fragile yet resilient, intimate yet monumental, transparent yet full of mystery.
The artists in this exhibition—masters of their craft—demonstrate remarkable technical prowess while pushing conceptual boundaries. Some works are sculptural, commanding space with bold forms and color. Others are delicate, inviting you to lean in and discover details that shift with the light. Together, they reveal the full spectrum of what glass can communicate in the hands of visionary artists.
A particularly exciting element of this exhibition is the inclusion of select works from Public Glass’s Private Collection. Rarely seen outside the organization’s own walls, these pieces represent some of the finest contemporary glass work being created today. Their presence in this show offers both a window into Public Glass’s collecting philosophy and a testament to the caliber of artists working in this medium.
Who Are the Featured Artists in The Contemporary World of Glass?
The exhibition features an impressive roster of contemporary glass artists whose work spans sculptural installation, functional design, and conceptual exploration:
All Glass Group Installation:
- Alex Abajian
- Abram Deslauriers
- Anderson Miller
- DH McNabb
- Eric White
- Helen Keifer
- Josefina Munoz Torres
- Minami Oya
- Momoko Schafer
- Nathan Sambar
- Oben Abright
- Public Glass Originals
Public Glass Private Collection Releases:
- Ben Edols & Kathy Elliot
- David Levi
- Guido Gerlitz
- Hank Murta Adams
- Jason Christian
- Jay Musler
- Martin Janecky
- Massimo Micheluzzi
- Matthew Szosz
- Mitch LaPlante
- Murano Glass by Venini
- Pamina Traylor
Each artist brings a distinctive voice and technical mastery to the exhibition, creating a dialogue between established and emerging talents in the contemporary glass movement.
Why Experience Glass Art at a Winery?
Presenting this exhibition within our tasting room in Yountville feels like a natural extension of what we do here. Our gallery has always been a place where creativity and hospitality intersect—where you can sip small-production Napa Valley wines while surrounded by art that stirs the senses.
Glass and wine share a kinship. Both are shaped by fire, time, and human touch. Both capture light in ways that transform a space. And both are best experienced in the moment, with attention and appreciation for the craft behind them.
Walking through the exhibition with a glass of our Cabernet in hand, you’ll find yourself noticing how light moves through the sculptures, how color shifts depending on where you stand, how the pieces seem to breathe alongside the rhythm of your own experience. This is art that rewards presence—and we can’t think of a better setting for that than our gallery.
What Does This Exhibition Mean for Our Community?
This collaboration represents something we deeply believe in: that art should be accessible, that community matters, and that beauty and hospitality can coexist without pretense. Public Glass shares these values, and their three decades of work prove that art can be both excellent and inclusive.
By bringing contemporary glass art to Yountville, we’re inviting our community—locals, visitors, wine lovers, and art enthusiasts alike—to discover a medium that might be new to them. We’re creating space for conversation, for wonder, and for the kind of connections that happen when people gather around something beautiful.
Part of Our Ongoing Commitment to the Arts
The Contemporary World of Glass marks the first quarter 2026 exhibition in Jessup Cellars Art Gallery’s quarterly rotation, curated by EPPICHarts. Throughout the year, our gallery showcases diverse artistic voices and mediums, creating an ever-evolving experience for our guests.
Explore Past Exhibitions:
- Art Across Cultures: A New Exhibition at Jessup Cellars
- Exploring the Art of Jason Myers: Jessup Cellars’ New Resident Artist
- Art Meets Wine: Must-Sees at Jessup Cellars Wine & Art Gallery
Visit our art gallery to discover the full scope of our artistic programming.
Visit Us
The Contemporary World of Glass opened with a sold-out reception on January 23, 2026, but the exhibition continues through the season. We invite you to experience it during your next visit to Jessup Cellars.
Come for a tasting. Wander through the gallery. Let yourself be drawn into the luminous, surprising world these artists have created. Whether you’re a longtime glass art enthusiast or encountering the medium for the first time, there’s something here that will catch your eye and hold it.
Explore our featured artists and plan your visit to the gallery, or check out our upcoming events to discover what else is happening in our space.
Art, like wine, is meant to be shared. We can’t wait to share this exhibition with you.