TOOTS ZYNSKY

Toots Zynsky, Carmen Mizimah, 2005, gass. Collection of Cafesjian Art Trust Museum. 2022.10.2.

Toots Zynsky received her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1973.  From 1971 to 1973 she assisted in the founding and early development of Pilchuck Glass School. From 1980 to 1983, she was a key participant in the rebuilding and development of the second New York Experimental Glass Workshop, now UrbanGlass. While living in Europe from 1983-1999 Zynsky collaborated with Mathijs Teunissen Van Manen to create a glass thread-pulling machine. During these years, she developed her unique filet de verre technique. Her lifelong love of music led her to West Africa from 1984-85 on a highly specialized music recording project. 

Among other awards, she has been a recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts grants; the Pell Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2006; and the 2015 Smithsonian Institution Visonary Award.  Zynsky was selected to be the 2016 artist to participate in Corning Inc. and the Corning Museum of Glass’ prestigious Specialty Glass Residency program which gave her the opportunity to spend time spanning from January to June of 2016 at Corning Inc.’s research facility. There she experimented with Corning’s uniquely formulated glass materials while collaborating with its scientists using highly specialized materials, machinery and equipment. 

In June 2017  Zynsky introduced a new series of work in New York City at the Heller Gallery titled “Endangered Species”, which highlights the peril birds face from human impacts, including unchecked climate change.  The works in this new series are inspired by birds from every continent around the world already at high risk of extinction.  

In the words of Tina Oldknow, then curator of modern glass at the Corning Museum of Glass “She is one of a small, core group of pioneering artists who made contemporary glass a worldwide phenomenon, and her distinctive kiln-formed vessels enjoy widespread popularity for their often magnificent, and always unique, explorations in color.” Zynsky’s work is represented in museums and private collections around the world.