Interview with Leo Tecosky

Leo Tecosky, 29, freelance glassblower, grad student at School of Visual Arts

Highlights from the interview: 

• Attended Alfred University to study sculpture (also completed two summer courses in glassblowing)
• Apprenticeships at Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center in New Jersey and Klenell Studio in Sweden (where he worked with recycled glass of wine bottles) 
• Studied glassblowing further at Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle (but still doesn’t consider himself formally trained) 
• Works most often as the first assistant to the gaffer (moving the glass)
• His favorite places to teach worldwide have been the Glass Furnace in Istanbul and Penland School of Craft in North Carolina
• Estimates there are under 100 glassblowers in New York City
• An art glass movement occurred in the United States in the 1950’s

Alexis: What made you stick with glassblowing? 

Leo: I blow glass because I love the idea of molding material with my hands. The glassblowing community worldwide is small. As soon as you meet another glassblower, you have that connection. 

Alexis: Are you an artist or a craftsman? 

Leo: I have an art degree, so I’m an artist. I use the trade to make money. 

Alexis: Tell me about your art. 

Leo: My art revolves around symbols and deconstructed graffiti, but it’s not a transliteration. 

Alexis: Does glassblowing vary from city to city?

Leo: In New York City, we blow glass the same way. We gather the same knowledge. But we have details that are different from each other. 

Alexis: What makes a successful glassblower?

Leo: Being a famous glassblower entails knowledge of the material and a willingness to share.

For more information on Leo Tecosky, visit his website.