Robert Mickelsen

Robert Mickelsen draws inspiration from the natural world, especially the organic forms found in nature, which he captures in glass. Having spent most of his life near the ocean, he is particularly fascinated by marine life. Fish have become his primary focus, and he strives to render them with remarkable realism.

Mickelsen works with borosilicate glass, a challenging material that demands great skill and precision. After a lifetime of practice, he has achieved the freedom to fully realize his artistic vision. Using an oxygen–propane flame, he melts glass rods and tubing, shaping each piece entirely by hand. Because the sculptures are freehand formed, every work is unique.

With more than five decades of experience as a professional flameworker, Mickelsen has also been a dedicated educator. He has taught at leading glass institutions such as the Pilchuck Glass School, Penland School of Crafts, the Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, and the Pittsburgh Glass Center. In addition to publishing numerous technical and historical writings on flameworked glass, he served six years on the Glass Art Society’s board of directors, including roles as treasurer and vice president. His artwork appears in major public collections nationwide, including the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery, the Corning Museum of Glass, and many other prominent museums. Now in his seventies, Mickelsen continues to work daily, devoted to expressing his artistic vision through glass.