Works of Glass

Asheville’s premier glassblowing studio and gallery, Lexington Glassworks, has established an impressive catalog of handmade crafts that perfectly align with the city’s natural, artistic nature. Using locally sourced materials and techniques pioneered by artisans from centuries ago, these unique artists invite you to discover their love for glass works and art and stop in for a souvenir crafted with thoughtful artistic expression.

How did you get into glasswork, and how did you meet?

We (Billy Guilford and Geoff Koslow, Co-Founders of Lexington Glassworks) both attended Alfred University, where we met. Billy started in ceramics but quickly fell in love with glass after his first class in college. Geoff began working with glass in high school, specifically with flameworking, and realized he wanted to work with glass.

Why did you decide to open a studio in Asheville? After attending a glass class at Penland School Craft in Penland, NC, Geoff fell in love with the area and saw the potential for a glass studio. He decided to move to Asheville in 2013. I (Billy) moved shortly after in 2014 to begin building out the studio. Lexington Glassworks opened in January 2015.

What is it like being part of the local creative community?

We’re so fortunate to be a part of the Asheville arts community. People travel from all over the world to visit Western North Carolina to experience the arts, and we get to live here doing what we love every day.

As independent artists, how do your styles and specialties differ?

Lexington Glassworks’ studio collections and lighting designs are a combination of our design aesthetics. Each collection features color patterns, forms, and techniques that one could say are characteristic of each of our works. When walking into Lexington Glassworks’ gallery, you will see a variety of oneof-a-kind vessels and sculptural pieces, each made under the company name but still varied in style. A keen eye can pick out the differences, but we’ll give you a hint—I (Geoff) love form, color, and cane, and Billy loves neutrals, patterns, and manipulating the surface of the glass.

What can people expect when they walk into your studio and gallery?

Lexington Glassworks is a 5,000-square-foot studio and gallery, and we blow glass 7 days a week. The public is welcome to come in and view the artists’ work. On any given day, the glassblowers are working on filling custom lighting orders, making items for the online store, or working on their own one-of-a-kind pieces.

Tell us more about your expansion into lighting design. Custom Lighting has always been a part of what we do here at Lexington Glassworks. We’ve worked with homeowners, designers, builders, and architects to design and make unique chandeliers, pendants, and installations. We’re excited to expand our design services and include one-on-one consultations, site visits, and a more extensive selection of American-made hardware.

We are currently working with Hubbardton Forge on a collaborative chandelier design that will be released to an international audience at Highpoint Market. The Slide is a handforged chandelier featuring, The Floret, Lexington Glassworks handblown glass shades.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of the job is being able to come to work, do what we love, and share it with our customers and visitors.

For more information about Lexington Glassworks, visit www.lexingtonglassworks.com or follow them on Instagram at @lexingtonglass.