From Michigan to Murano to Maui, glass artist Yashu Reddy continues to invest in the craft (and indulge in his love for travel).
What started as a college elective for Yashu Reddy quickly grew into a career and lifestyle as a glass artist. With over a decade in the craft, he has studied under and worked alongside artists of international renown, and developed a highly skilled reputation for himself as well. And still, Reddy is hungry to learn more and dive deeper into glasswork.
As Reddy catches me up to speed on his latest endeavors, he sips a beer and drags on a cigarette, a post-work ritual I’m familiar with from our shared summers at Ox-Bow. It’s 4:00 p.m. where he’s calling me from. Two weeks ago he was at a studio in Maui, but now he’s in Murano, Italy. To understand how he got here, we have to journey back to the start of Reddy’s studio experience. Back to that first class at community college.
At age twenty, Yashu Reddy enrolled in an introductory glass class in central Pennsylvania. He was goaded into taking it by a friend who recommended it as an elective. “Realistically, I owe it to him for getting me into glass,” Reddy credits. Over the years, Reddy would experience countless other occurrences and fateful directions from others in the community that would drive him deeper into his career.
Vessels by Yashu Reddy.
The same friend who introduced him to glass found the Banana Factory Arts Center, which housed a glass studio in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. After undergoing what Reddy referred to as “tryouts” in the studio, Reddy received an invitation to intern there for the summer. The situation wasn’t what you’d call glorious. In return for the opportunity to work in the studio, Reddy was allowed to crash on the couch of the studio manager. During those long days at the Banana Factory, the glassblowers would watch videos on VHS of a Muranese glass master performing demos. A decade later, Reddy now works in that maestro’s studio. “If you would have told me ten years ago, I would have never thought in a million years that I would be the guy to work with the [maestro] in the video,” Reddy reflected.
It was in 2019 that Reddy and the maestro, Davide Fuin, first crossed paths. Though I suppose that makes it sound a bit too serendipitous. In reality, Reddy set out with intention to take the maestro’s workshop. After seeing openings for the workshop, which would take place in the studio in Murano, Reddy thought, “Wow, what a freaking cool opportunity it would be to go to Italy, but also to take a workshop from this guy who was one of the best in the world.” Reddy described the week-long experience as one of the most challenging and expansive times for his practice. “It was incredibly humbling. I remember that, but then I also remember how much content I felt like I absorbed within five days.” The firehose nature of the workshop was so impactful that when the maestro offered a course a couple years later in California, Reddy didn’t hesitate to join.
Yashu Reddy leading a glass blowing demo. Photo by Natia Ser (SF23).
Shortly before he attended that second workshop, the maestro extended an invitation for Reddy to join his team in Murano. After wrapping up a second season at Ox-Bow, that’s exactly where Reddy went. The experience still feels surreal to the artist. Not only does he work alongside a glassblower that he spent years admiring, he’s also surrounded by countless other talented glass artists in what has historically and still contemporarily been known as a haven of glassmaking. “You go out to casually get a drink at the bar, and you don't even know it, but you're surrounded by people who not only do the same thing as you, but have been doing it for probably longer than you've been alive,” Reddy said. While there’s an inherent respect for the glassmakers and the traditions they’ve upheld, you won’t hear people reveling about it at the bars. “Because everybody does that for work here as a career, no one really talks about it. You'll never hear people casually talking about work outside in town,” Reddy explained.
The maestro’s team is intimate: just Reddy and a young, local glassblower named Carlo. Reddy swears that Carlo will be the next great Muranese glass artist, one who could carry on the maestro’s legacy. The two young artists often end the work day together, spending extra time practicing in the studio after the maestro calls it a day. Then they head to a local restaurant for dinner and a drink, where Reddy manages to choke back the questions his inner “glass nerd self” wishes he could ask the experts.
Vessels by Yashu Reddy. Photo by Clare Britt.
While Murano is paradise, it’s not the only one Reddy knows. Most recently, he spends the majority of his year at a studio in Maui, Hawaii. For the immediate future, Reddy plans to continue spending time in both the maestro’s studio and in Maui at Makai Glass. Amidst all the travel, Reddy admits, “A place to call home would be really nice.” And as the months pass, he suspects Maui could become that. “I feel like this spot that I've found in Maui feels very much like a home base. I really like the idea of going back to there,” Reddy said.
Beyond the studio in Maui, he’s found things to wax nostalgic about while he’s away from Hawaii. He misses his outrigger canoe team, the sound of roosters, and the lush environment. But the travel bug keeps him going: “I still love traveling and meeting people, and I'm not really ready to stop, you know. I'm not really ready to settle down,” he shared. Over ten years in, Yashu Reddy is still chasing fervently after glass. He shows no signs of slowing down in the hot shop, saying yes to new adventures, or finding yet another studio located on an idyllic island.
Yashu Reddy is an Indian-American glass artist from Central Pennsylvania. His work focuses on the traditional aspects of glass craft and design from a functional viewpoint. Refining form and technique through the study of tableware, lighting fixtures, and abstract sculpture. He draws inspiration from the aesthetics of historical glass objects, with the intention of rendering his works with more relevant and personal styles.
His education began at Harrisburg Area Community College where he was introduced to the medium and from there continued to travel the world to study with prestigious glass artists such as Raven Skyriver, Kelly O’Dell, Darin Denison, and Davide Fuin. He has a diverse working experience ranging from design studios such as Niche Modern and AO Glassworks to educational organizations such as the prestigious Corning Museum of Glass, where he has been on the team of many reputable artists such as Swedish maker, Fredrik Nielsen and Head of Glass at SIU, Jiyong Lee. He was previously working at the Ox-Bow School of Art and Artist’s Residency as Glass Studio Manager.
Since his time away from Ox-Bow he is continuing his education, working as an apprentice glassmaker in Venice, Italy for one of the last few living Masters in Murano, Italy, a small island located in the Venetian lagoon that is well renowned for its centuries long artistic glass making history.
This article was written by Shanley Poole, Engagement Liaison & Storyteller and was based on an interview conducted in September of 2024. Header photo by Clare Britt.