The Corning Museum of Glass

Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio | Exhibition Trailer

The trailer announces “Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio,” an exhibition that brings to light the overlooked contributions of female glass artists in the United States. It positions the show as a corrective to a male‑dominated narrative that has long defined the studio‑glass movement. The film stresses that women were present from the field’s inception, working in studios, teaching, and innovating, yet their work often remained in storage or absent from museum catalogues. Curators have now retrieved pieces from private collections, revealing a breadth of techniques and aesthetics that shaped contemporary glass. The narrator’s defiant remarks—“I’m going to be a glass blower…nothing will stop me”—illustrate the personal resolve that drove many women to persist despite societal expectations. The exhibition also highlights stories of artists who declared they would “die trying” to pursue their craft, underscoring both sacrifice and triumph. By foregrounding these narratives, the show challenges existing market valuations and encourages collectors, galleries, and institutions to reassess the provenance and significance of women‑made glass. It signals a broader industry shift toward inclusive storytelling, which could expand audiences and open new commercial opportunities.