Image by Alec Miller
Ali VandeGrift is a glass beadmaker and scientific glassblower. She is formally educated in glass, holding a degree in Scientific Glass Technology from Salem Community College. From 2010 to 2015, Ali was one of two resident scientific glassblowers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Since then, she has moved to Seattle, WA to focus on her artistic glass career. Her current body of artwork is focused on intricate scrollwork and linear patterns. The scale of her lampwork is very large, on and over the edge of wearable.
As well as making large lampworked beads, she is currently working on a series of blown vessels with collaborator Brennan Kasperzak, interpreting her small artwork into larger objects. This experience has helped her grow as an artist, both in technical skill and artistic vision.
Image by Kristoff Kamrath