# Cappy Thompson

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**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](/source/Seattle), [Washington](/source/Washington_(state)).

## Early life and education

Cappy Thompson was born January 22, 1952 in [Alexandria, Virginia](/source/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](/source/Penland_School_of_Crafts) in [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina), the [Pratt Fine Arts Center](/source/Pratt_Fine_Arts_Center) in Seattle, Washington and [UrbanGlass](/source/UrbanGlass) in [Brooklyn](/source/Brooklyn), [New York](/source/New_York_(state)).[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](/source/Museum_of_Glass) in Tacoma.[8]

## Artistic style

Thompson’s work draws on a range of sources, including [Hindu](/source/Hindu) and [Buddhist](/source/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"](https://www.portseattle.org/page/i-was-dreaming-spirit-animals). *Port of Seattle*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260414040422/https://www.portseattle.org/page/i-was-dreaming-spirit-animals) 14 April 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

1. ["Dreaming of Spirt Animals – The Glass Art of Cappy Thompson (2004) 33:00 – Evergreen Visual History Archive"](https://sites.evergreen.edu/visualhistory/dreaming-of-spirt-animals-the-glass-art-of-cappy-thompson/). Retrieved 2025-07-01.

1. ["Archived copy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141212070916/http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Passenger-Services/Documents/artbrochure6-09.pdf). Archived from [the original](http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Passenger-Services/Documents/artbrochure6-09.pdf) on 2014-12-12. Retrieved 2012-06-07.

1. ["Concourse A"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120821193555/http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Passenger-Services/Airport-Art/Pages/Concourse-A.aspx). Archived from [the original](http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Passenger-Services/Airport-Art/Pages/Concourse-A.aspx) on 2012-08-21. Retrieved 2012-06-07.

1. Drabeck, Bernard A. (Dec 30, 2007). ["Cappy Thompson: Creating, Experimenting"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/806153102/?match=1). The Olympian. Retrieved 8 April 2026. – via newspapers.com.

1. ["Cappy Thompson"](https://www.arts.wa.gov/collection/artist-collection/?id=2331&index=2#:~:text=American%20(born%201952),%2C%20poetry%2C%20and%20personal%20expression.). *Washington Arts*. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

1. ["Archived copy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141212070916/http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Passenger-Services/Documents/artbrochure6-09.pdf). Archived from [the original](http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Passenger-Services/Documents/artbrochure6-09.pdf) on 2014-12-12. Retrieved 2012-06-07.

1. ["Museum of Glass - Cappy Thompson's Gathering the Light"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111012095234/http://museumofglass.org/page.aspx?pid=446). Archived from [the original](http://www.museumofglass.org/page.aspx?pid=446) on 2011-10-12. Retrieved 2012-06-07.

1. *Masters: Blown Glass: Major Works by Leading Artists*. New York: Sterling Publishing. 2010. p. 264. ISBN 978-1600594748.

1. Drabeck, Bernard A. (June 25, 2006). ["Fascinating glass designs dominate new space"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/1159935572/?match=1). The Birmingham News. Retrieved 2 April 2026. – via newspapers.com.

1. ["Studio Art Glass"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130525051338/http://www.mmfa.org/exhibitions.aspx?id=226). Archived from [the original](http://www.mmfa.org/exhibitions.aspx?id%3D226) on 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2012-06-07.

1. ["Pilchuck Glass School : John H. Hauberg Fellowship"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120511173854/http://www.pilchuck.com/residencies/hauberg_v2012.aspx). Archived from [the original](http://www.pilchuck.com/residencies/hauberg_v2012.aspx) on 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2012-06-07.

1. ["Cappy Thompson"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121016181925/http://www.glassart.org/Cappy_Thompson.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.glassart.org/Cappy_Thompson.html) on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2012-06-07.

## External links

- [Cappy Thompson Painted Glass](http://www.cappythompson.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cappy Thompson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappy_Thompson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappy_Thompson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.