In a way, glass artist John Hogan was born into the craft. Raised in Toledo, Ohio, where scientist and inventor Dominick Labino made some of the first decorative glass in the U.S., Hogan grew up captivated by the process. After observing glasswork at a hot shop next to his childhood home, Hogan formally took up the craft at the age of 15, enrolling in the Toledo museum’s glass program. Since then, his studies have taken him from Bowling Green University to the Czech Republic and Niijima, Japan, to observe both countries’ specific processes. Hogan currently shows his work at Curtis Steiner gallery in Seattle; the city, he says “has become a mecca for glassmaking, second only to the Czech Republic.” Here, Hogan has managed to carve out a unique niche for himself, employing a range of techniques to produce stunning, prismatic objets.

Hogan at work during a residency at the Toledo museum of art's glass pavilion.

“I draw a lot,” explains the artist. “I really don’t even think about process until I have a drawing and I think ‘I want to make that.’” Currently, he makes about half of his glass in a kiln, a practice learned in the Czech Republic, and half by hot sculpting, which produces a smoother, shinier finish. Inspiration comes from all around—Hogan is constantly snapping photos of captivating forms, textures, and colors in the world around him.

Hogan’s sketches for future works.

This year Hogan teamed up with lighting company Ladies & Gentlemen Studio on a line of table lights, and in 2016 he’ll debut a collaboration with Lukas Peet of Andlight. But beyond these partnerships, Hogan generally eschews issuing pieces in series. “It’s important to me that people see each of the pieces as unique,” he says. “If I’m creative enough, I should be able to make enough for repetition not to be necessary.”

Take a look at some of Hogan's creations.