RESUMÉ - MICHAEL MIKULA

Michael Mikula, award winning architectural blown glass sculptor, at work in his studio in Cleveland, Ohio.

HOT GLASS SCULPTOR

Born 1963 in Grand Junction, Colorado and raised in Chautauqua County, New York, Michael earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1987. He studied at Pilchuck Glass School in Washington, Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, and Fundacio Centre del Vidre in Barcelona, Spain.

From 1988 to 1996 Michael was a junior member of Benchmark Glass Studio, owned and operated by his mentors, former Professor Brent Kee Young and Mark Sudduth. In 1994, Michael completed a residency at the Creative Glass Center of America in Millville, New Jersey.

Michael has been self employed, maintaining a full-time studio since 1988. He exhibits in juried art and craft exhibitions and is represented by fine art galleries across the United States. In 2009, Michael was awarded a $20,000 Creative Workforce Fellowship grant, administered by Community Partnership For Arts And Culture. In 2013 Michael was awarded an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award.

Michael lives and works in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2017 he established his current studio, MIDTOWN GLASSWORKS, in The Cleveland Commerce Center in Midtown Cleveland - a mostly industrial neighborhood which also houses a lively mix of artists, designers, creatives and entrepreneurs. MIDTOWN GLASSWORKS is the fourth glass studio in the neighborhood, dubbed Cleveland’s Glass Corridor.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION  

  • 2002 Fundacio Centre del Vidre de Barcelona, Spain *Mosaic techniques/Architectural landmarks by A. Gaudi, with Rene Culler & Philippa Beveridge.

  • 1994 Creative Glass Center Of America, Fellowship, Millville, NJ *Selected from an international field of applicants for creative exploration as artist in residence. 

  • 1988-1996 Benchmark Studio, Junior Member, Brent Kee Young, Mark Sudduth, owners Cleveland, OH

  • 1987 Cleveland Institute of Art, BFA  *Traveling Scholarship Recipient

  • 1986 Penland School Of Crafts, Penland, NC  

  • 1986 Pilchuck Glass School,  Stanwood, WA *Studied with Flora Mace and Joey Kirkpatrick.

GRANTS

  • 2013 Ohio Arts Council Grant, Individual Excellence Award

  • 2009-2010 Creative Workforce Fellowship Grant, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

SELECTED GALLERY EXHIBITIONS  

  • 2023 Intrinsic Luminescence, Decorative Arts Center Of Ohio, Lancaster, OH

  • 2021 CIA Glass Invitational, River Gallery, Cleveland, OH

  • 2018 Lucent Findings, 2 person show with Judith Brandon, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV

  • 2016 Glass Matrix, The Cleveland Connection, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH

  • 2012 Featured Artist, Heights Arts Gallery, Cleveland Heights, OH

  • 2010 Ohio Glass Masters, Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield, OH   

  • 2008 Ineffable Light, 2 person show with Eddie Mitchell, Beachwood Arts Council Galleries, Beachwood, OH  

  • 2007 Best Of 2007, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH

SELECTED COLLECTIONS & COMMISSIONS

  • 2018 Delta Airlines, Delta Sky Club, Phoenix, AZ

  • 2017 Weingarten Residence, West Palm Beach, FL

  • 2016 Pesses Residence, Moreland Hill, OH

  • 2016 Gardner Residence, Philadelphia, PA

  • 2015 Pacyna Residence, Morgantown, WV

  • 2014 Keeble-Depew Residence, Asheville, NC

  • 2010 Bennis Residence, Beachwood, OH

  • 2010 Carter Residence, Hastings, MN       

  • 2010 Bauman Residence, Stockton, NY

  • 2009 Hiester Residence, State College, PA     

  • 2009 Hansford Residence, Saint Louis, MO  

  • 2008 Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland, OH

  • 2007 AHC Inc., Arlingon, VA

  • 1994 Bauman Residence, Mechanicsville, MD 

  • 1994 Museum Of American Glass, Millville, NJ     

  • 1990 Invacare Corporation, Elyria, OH

SELECTED ART FESTIVALS & AWARDS

  • 2022-23 Boston Mills ArtFest, Peninsula, OH *Award of Excellence-2023

  • 2021-23 Morning Glory Art Fair, Milwaukee, WI *Award of Excellence-2021, Best In Show-2022

  • 2000-2023 The Original Ann Arbor Art Festival, Ann Arbor, MI *Invited Artist-2013, Award of Excellence-2018

  • 2000-2023 Winter Park Art Festival, Winter Park, FL *Award of Merit-2013

  • 2008-11, 2014-17, 2022 Philadelphia Museum Of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia, PA

  • 1995-2018 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, State College, PA *Award of Excellence-2003, 05, 09, 11, Fine Art Award-2013, Best In Show-2012, 14

  • 1990-2018 American Craft Council Shows, Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, San Francisco, Sarasota, St.Paul  

  • 2000-2018 Lakefront Art Festival, Milwaukee, WI    

  • 2000-2017 Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Festival, Peoria, IL *Award of Excellence-2003, 07, 16, Best In Show-2011

  • 2015 Niche Award Finalist, Niche Magazine

  • 2009-2015 Washington Craft Show, Washington, DC *Collector’s Award-2009

  • 2009, 2012-13 Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington, DC

  • 2012 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Summer Art Festival, Kalamazoo, MI *First Place Overall-2012

  • 2010 Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver, CO

  • 2009 Des Moines Art Festival, Des Moines, IA *Best In Glass-2009

  • 2008 Sausalito Art Festival, Sausalito, CA

*You may have met Michael - he has exhibited in over 500 art fairs and exhibitions throughout the United States since 1988.