Jon Rees is an artist/educator with a background in architecture. After earning a degree in architecture and while working in the field for several years, he discovered glass as an artistic material at the Corning Museum of Glass. This led him to pursue and complete a Master of Fine Arts in Glass at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Since then, he has taught at universities and studios across the United States. His work has been exhibited internationally at exhibitions and biennales. It was also featured in the Corning Museum of Glass’ prestigious annual publication New Glass Review #37.

In addition to teaching at Ball State and managing the Glick Center for Glass, Mr. Rees maintains a rigorous studio practice with a focus on sculpture. In his phenomenological approach, the common thread is the study of the subjects and objects of his personal experiences. Each body of work references a previous career, personal interests, or specific life circumstances and ultimately becomes a tool for understanding the world in which he exists.

Mr. Rees’ career as an architectural designer, led him to sculpturally explore the essence of architecture: Form, Space, & Light. His interest in the nautical has resulted in a developing body of work that uses maritime phrases embedded in our everyday language as inspiration for sculpture. These sculptures act together as a non-linear visual metaphor for the journey through life. He is also currently pursuing a collaborative body of work exploring geographical and socio-cultural sense of place through photographic imagery on glass, in conjunction with sculpture.

The variety of topics explored within his individual and collaborative practices has facilitated an interdisciplinary approach to both content and media. This includes digital processes utilizing three-dimensional modeling software in conjunction with three-dimensional printing, CNC, laser cutting, and water-jet cutting technology