Cappy Thompson
Birth placeAlexandria, Virginia
Birth dateJanuary 22, 1952 (age 74)
EducationEvergreen State College
Known forGlass art, enamel work
Notable worksDreaming of Spirit Animals; Gathering the Light

Cappy Thompson (born January 22, 1952) is an American glass artist known for her reverse-painted enamel work. Her work often incorporates narrative imagery drawn from a range of sources, including religious traditions, folklore, and medieval legend. She lives in Seattle, Washington.

Early life and education

Cappy Thompson was born January 22, 1952 in Alexandria, Virginia.[1] She graduated in 1976 from The Evergreen State College, where she studied painting and printmaking.[2]

Career

Thompson has been an artist in residence at Pilchuck Glass School and is a recipient of the school’s Libenský Award.[3][4] She has taught at the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, the Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle, Washington and UrbanGlass in Brooklyn, New York.[5][6]

Her best-known public works include Dreaming of Spirit Animals at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport[7] and Gathering the Light in the lobby of the Museum of Glass in Tacoma.[8]

Artistic style

Thompson’s work draws on a range of sources, including Hindu and Buddhist traditions, fables, and medieval legends, and often incorporates narrative imagery. She began her career as a painter of stained glass and uses transparency as a central feature of her work. Her glass vessels are typically reverse-painted using enamel techniques. She has been described as a leading American artist working in transparent enamelling.[9]

Solo exhibitions

Thompson has held solo exhibitions, including at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Alabama, in 2006.[10][11]

Honors and awards

Selected awards include:

  • John Hauberg Fellowship, Pilchuck Glass School (2001, 2012)[12]
  • Artist Trust Fellowship, Seattle, Washington (1997)
  • Artist in Residence, Toyama City Institute of Glass Art, Toyama, Japan (1995)[13]
  • Fellowship for the Visual Arts, National Endowment for the Arts (1990)

Personal life

Thompson lives in Seattle, Washington.[1]

References

  1. ^ "I was dreaming of Spirit Animalsl by Cappy Thompson". Port of Seattle. Archived 14 April 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  2. ^ "Dreaming of Spirt Animals – The Glass Art of Cappy Thompson (2004) 33:00 – Evergreen Visual History Archive". Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-12-12. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  4. ^ "Concourse A". Archived from the original on 2012-08-21. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  5. ^ Drabeck, Bernard A. (Dec 30, 2007). "Cappy Thompson: Creating, Experimenting". The Olympian. Retrieved 8 April 2026. – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Cappy Thompson". Washington Arts. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-12-12. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  8. ^ "Museum of Glass - Cappy Thompson's Gathering the Light". Archived from the original on 2011-10-12. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  9. ^ Masters: Blown Glass: Major Works by Leading Artists. New York: Sterling Publishing. 2010. p. 264. ISBN 978-1600594748.
  10. ^ Drabeck, Bernard A. (June 25, 2006). "Fascinating glass designs dominate new space". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 2 April 2026. – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Studio Art Glass". Archived from the original on 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  12. ^ "Pilchuck Glass School : John H. Hauberg Fellowship". Archived from the original on 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  13. ^ "Cappy Thompson". Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2012-06-07.