Bachelor of Fine Arts - Studio Art - Glass

From the fiery glow of the hot shop to the calm precision of the coldworking bench, students will push the limits of both technique and imagination—connecting ancient craft with new technologies and ideas. Whether driven by sculpture, design, installation, or experimental media, students will find a creative voice and a community in the only glass-focused program in western Canada.

Program Overview

AUArts' Glass program immerses students in every dimension of contemporary glassmaking—from blown and cast glass to fusing, lampworking, coldworking, and experimental techniques. Students work in one of Canada's best-equipped glass studios, mentored by internationally recognized artists and expert technicians. Courses blend rigorous hands-on projects with research, critical discussion, and collaborative making.

As progress is made, students develop technical mastery, conceptual depth, and a personal style, supported by advanced studio access and faculty mentorship. Flexible electives and interdisciplinary opportunities connect students with Sculpture, Ceramics, Media Arts and more—preparing them for a future as creative innovators.

Program Highlights

• Master Every Temperature: The curriculum covers blowing, sculpting, and shaping molten glass—then expands into kiln-formed, cast, and coldworked glass, fusing ancient technique with contemporary ideas.
• Mold-Making Magic: The course reveals the secrets of glass casting, using materials ranging from wax and clay to concrete and even ice. Students make molds, cast objects, and experiment with repetition, modularity, and found materials.
• Make Images with Glass: Students create imagery on and within glass using innovative kiln-forming and casting techniques—perfect for printmaking, photography, or narrative art.
• Thematic and Contemporary Exploration: Contemporary topics and new directions in hot glass are explored. Projects address current themes, and personal interests are pushed within the global field of glass art.
• Installations, Light, and Interactivity: Open doors to sculptural installations, light-based artworks, and interdisciplinary collaborations—mixing glass with technology, performance, and space.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Glass program will:

• Demonstrate advanced technical skills across all major glass processes—hot, cold, kiln-formed, cast, engraved, and sculptural.
• Integrate history, theory, and contemporary discourse into creative practice.
• Critically analyze and situate work within the global glass movement, craft traditions, and contemporary art and design.
• Master the collaborative and safety protocols essential for working in a professional hot shop.
• Exhibit conceptual problem-solving skills—translating ideas into ambitious, original pieces.
• Build a professional portfolio and confidently present work in exhibitions, proposals, and public forums.

New! The Bachelor of Fine Arts program now offers emerging secondary concentrations in Comic Studies and Game Design, available as additional areas of focus alongside the primary concentration.