CONTEMPORARY GLASS Artist & Educator

Jonathan Capps was first introduced to hot glass in 2002 when he became a student of Stephen Rolfe Powell at Centre College (Danville, KY). In 2005 he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA, Studio Art - Glass, '05).

For almost a decade, Capps worked as a freelance artist and glassblower and was engaged with several reputable glass programs, including The Pittsburgh Glass Center, Penland School of Crafts, and The University of Louisville under the leadership of Che Rhodes. During this time, Capps traveled extensively to learn, teach, and pursue mastery of his craft. He received several residencies and scholarships, including the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and the International Artist Residency at Lasikompannia in Nuutajärvi, Finland.

After a brief pause in glassmaking to "thru-hike" the infamous 2,181 mile long Appalachian Trail, Capps was accepted into the graduate program at The Ohio State University, earning a Master of Fine Arts degree ('16) with a focus in Studio Glass Art. He received several awards and scholarships during his time at Ohio State, most notably a travel grant and fellowship as an Archaeological Illustrator in the remote Oğlanqala region of the Autonomous Republic of Naxçivan, Azerbaijan.

Capps continued to teach as a Faculty Lecturer in OSU's Department of Art until 2018 when he was awarded a U.S. Student Fulbright Arts Grant to Finland for Study & Research in glass art design and production. He spent the 2018/2019 academic year immersed in the Finnish glass community conducting his Fulbright project in studio education and cultural exchange through glass art.

Capps has taught and exhibited extensively in the U.S. and abroad. Having worked with a myriad of glass artists and master craftspeople throughout his career, he has developed a diverse practice, moving fluently between traditional techniques and experimental methods, pushing the boundaries, and seeking new medium applications. Capps welcomes innovative ideas to the studio, bringing fun, energy, and inspiring enthusiasm into the hot shop.

Selected as a 2020 Fulbright Alumni Ambassador, Capps continues to serve Fulbright through his volunteer outreach, engagement, and recruitment for the U.S. Student Program and the U.S. State Department's International Institute of Education (IIE). Currently, Jonathan Capps lives with his family in Columbus, Ohio, where he runs his JC Glassmaker business as a freelance glass artist and designer. In addition, he continues to work with and mentor undergraduate and graduate students at The Ohio State University in its Department of Art, serving as a Faculty Lecturer in the glass program.