Alex Gabriel Bernstein is a renowned glass artist known for his innovative and expressive sculptures. Born in 1972 in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, Bernstein grew up in a creative environment surrounded by influential figures in the American studio glass movement. His parents, William and Katherine Bernstein, were established glass artists, which provided him with early exposure to the craft.

Education and Early Career

Bernstein’s formal education began at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where he earned a BA in 1994. Initially, he pursued a career in psychology, working at a children’s psychiatric hospital. However, his passion for art eventually led him to focus on glass sculpture full-time. He furthered his education by studying glassblowing at the Penland School of Crafts with David Levi in 1999 and Dimitri Mechealidis in 1998. In 2001, Bernstein completed his MFA at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s School for American Crafts.

Professional Experience and Teaching

Throughout his career, Bernstein has held various teaching positions, sharing his expertise with aspiring glass artists. He served as the department head of glass at the Worcester Center for Crafts in Worcester, MA. Additionally, he has taught at prestigious institutions such as:

• Cleveland Institute of Art
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass
• Penland School of Crafts
• Pilchuck Glass School
  
  

In 2007, Bernstein returned to his hometown of Asheville, NC, to establish his own studio and focus on creating his work full-time.

Artistic Style and Technique

Bernstein’s work is characterized by a bold and refreshing exploration of visual form and storytelling. His sculptures often combine metaphor with the sensuality of sculpted glass, creating intimate narrative landscapes drawn from light, form, and color. His techniques mirror natural processes such as oxidation, erosion, growth, and decay, resulting in pieces that evoke images of flowing water, ice crystals, mountain peaks, and jagged canyons.

Exhibitions

Throughout his career, Bernstein has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions:

Solo Exhibitions:

• 2008: “Time Exposed,” Traver Gallery, Tacoma, WA
• 2007: “Inside Out,” William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA
• 2006: Thomas Riley Gallery, Cleveland, OH
• 2005: “Spotlight,” Prism Contemporary Glass Gallery, Chicago, IL
• 2004: “Tactile Visions,” Chappell Gallery, New York, NY
  
  

Select Group Exhibitions:

• SOFA Chicago and SOFA New York, represented by Chappell Gallery (multiple years)
• Palm Beach Contemporary, represented by Chappell Gallery
• International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oaks, MI (multiple years)
• Glass Weekend, Creative Glass Center of America, Wheaton, NJ
• Toronto International Art Fair, represented by Sandra Ainsley Gallery
  
  

Awards and Honors

Bernstein has received several prestigious awards for his work in glass:

• 2012: Critic’s Choice Award and Collectors Choice Award, Habatat International Glass Invitational
• 2009: Rising Star for the 21st Century, Distinction from The Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass
• 2008 and 2006: Award of Excellence, Habatat International Glass Invitational
• 2003: Selection for New Glass Review
• 2002: American Craft Council Emerging Artist Grant
• 2001: Dean of Liberal Arts Purchase Award and Wallace Memorial Library Purchase Award
• 2000: Niche Award for glass sculpture and Sylvia L Rosen Endowment Purchase Award
  
  

Collections

Alex Bernstein’s work is held in numerous prestigious collections, including:

• Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY
• Glasmuseum Frauenau, Germany
• Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
• Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs, CA
• American Embassies in Reykjavik, Iceland; Libreville, Gabon; and Geneva, Switzerland
• Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
• Mobile Art Museum, Mobile, AL
  
  

Alex Gabriel Bernstein continues to push the boundaries of glass art, creating sculptures that reflect his sense of exploration and his ability to depict emotions and responses through his chosen medium. His unique approach to glass sculpture has established him as a significant figure in contemporary glass art.