Brian Brenno began working with hand-blown glass hats in college—initially by accident—only to discover the powerful emotional resonance of the form. His ongoing series of glass hats explores the relationship between people and familiar objects, transforming the ordinary into something contemplative and new. Introduced to glassblowing in 1981 while attending a stained glass class at Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington, Brenno was instantly captivated by the medium. He earned his BFA from California College of the Arts in 1985 and spent nine years on Dale Chihuly’s glassblowing team, collaborating with some of the most accomplished glass artists in the world. In 1997, he established his own studio in his grandfather’s former auto repair shop, where he continues to explore form, craft, and the playful symbolism of his iconic glass hats.