Jonathan Bolivar

BIO

Jonathan Bolivar has been blowing glass for thirteen years. He currently lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, teaching and serving as Outreach Coordinator at the Tulsa Glassblowing School. He began through Tulsa Community College in conjunction with Tulsa Glass Blowing School. Jonathan's initial technical knowledge came from his first years working under Cedric Mitchell. During their time together, they would spend up to sixteen additional hours to a fulltime work week practicing different shapes and techniques. After Cedric moved, Jonathan left home to work in a private studio in Kansas City. This studio produced more complex work and allowed Jonathan to hone in on skills through repetition. When Jonathan wasn't working at Monarch Glass Studio, he spent his spare days working for Rock Cottage Glassworks outside of the city limits. Being totally immersed in glass production, he began to push the technical ability in his own work. Jonathan would eventually apply for his first summer intensives, making his way to Penland School of Craft, Pittsburgh Glass Center, and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. The following summer, he would be accepted as a technical apprentice at Pittsburgh Glass Center. Following his years in Pittsburgh, Jonathan moved to Tacoma, Washington to work with the Hilltop Artists as a teaching artist. 

Being back in Tulsa, Jonathan aims to expand his local glass community, working with youth from around the city and veterans from TGS’s Vetri program. His hope is to give back the knowledge he was gifted through his time in Tulsa, and from his time spent learning from different artists around the country.

Artist Statement

The focus of my work is centered around exploring different ways that form perceptions of balance. Using the variables of shape and structure, pattern and color, I hope to create subconscious connections with others through their perception of balance.

Exhibitions