For as long as new NVOS artist Ed Edwards can remember, some form of art was present in his life – whether it was helping make a mosaic as a family project, watching his artist father paint in his studio, or being mesmerized by the stained glass windows in his grandparents' house.
Born in Chicago, Ed received a BA from Lawrence University and an MBA from New York University. He began working with stained glass in the 1970s and continued, as time, allowed, throughout his business career.
After sixteen years of working at a Napa Valley winery, Ed decided to take a leap of faith, and opened a stained glass studio where he made commissioned windows for businesses, churches, and residences across the United States. Ed's transition to kiln-formed art began when he couldn't find the desired glass for a stained glass window project. To solve the problem, Ed bought a kiln and created the perfect glass. This gave him a taste of what this new method could provide, and the transition to hot glass continued over the years.
In 2006, Ed moved to Mobile, Alabama, when a non-profit organization recruited his wife for a project. As a Yankee in the deep South, Ed realized it would be difficult to compete the the two well-established stained glass studios in Mobile, so he decided that Edwards Glass Studio would focus exclusively on kiln-formed glass. Since there weren't any other hot glass artists in Mobile, Ed found that being a lone ranger in the Southern wilderness was often a double-edged sword; there was no one there to help when he ran into problems – however, he was also unhindered by others' views of any perceived limitations with kiln-formed glass. This gave Ed the freedom to develop his own unique style of artwork.
After seven years in Alabama, Ed has recently returned to Napa, where he has reestablished Edwards Glass Studio at his home. Ed continues to explore new directions in kiln-formed glass, such as building upon his table-top design techniques to create both free-standing and wall sculptures. As Ed says, "It's just too much fun to call it work."
You can find Ed's artwork in galleries and gift stores across the country, ranging from the Hoypoloi Gallery in Downtown Disney to the Museum of Arts and Design in Manhattan. And during Open Studios you can meet Ed and see his artwork at Studio #26, Edwards Glass Studio, at 1081-A Tamarisk Drive, Napa, California, along with the work of Sue F. Payne and Emil Yanos. You can also find Ed's work online at www.EdwardsArtGlass.com.
