Daniel Clayman is a renowned contemporary glass artist and sculptor born in 1957 in Lynn, Massachusetts. His artistic journey began with an unexpected foundation in theater lighting design, which significantly influenced his later work with glass. This early experience instilled in Clayman a deep fascination with light, which would become a central theme in his sculptural creations.

Clayman’s formal education in glass art commenced at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he earned his BFA in Glass in 1986. He also attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and Connecticut College, further broadening his artistic perspective.

After completing his education, Clayman established his studio near Providence, Rhode Island, where he has been working since. His artistic approach is unique, focusing on creating large-scale objects in cast glass. Clayman’s work is characterized by its clear or soft monotone colors, emphasizing form over vibrant hues. His sculptures are often described as successful from a formal standpoint, regardless of the medium, but the use of glass allows for a dramatic interplay with light that enhances the objects’ visual impact.

Throughout his career spanning over 35 years, Clayman has received numerous awards and grants, including:

• Urban Glass Award for “Innovative Use of Glass in Sculpture” in Brooklyn, NY (2001)
• Artist’s Grants from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (1989, 1995, 1997)
• Artists’ Fellowship from the New England Foundation for the Arts (1995)
• Exhibition Grant from Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ (2017)
  
  

Clayman’s work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the United States and internationally. Some notable exhibitions include:

• Tacoma Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington
• Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina
• Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts
• “Radiant Landscape” at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ
  
  

His sculptures have found homes in prestigious permanent collections, including:

• Museum of Fine Art in San Francisco
• Museum of Art and Design in New York
• Corning Museum of Glass
• Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga
• Cleveland Museum of Art
• Milwaukee Art Museum
• Museum of Fine Art in Boston
• Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
  
  

Clayman’s artistic practice often involves creating large-scale installations that can be considered architectural glass, sometimes filling entire walls. His work explores themes of capturing and manipulating light, inspired by his observations of how light interacts with its environment.

In addition to his studio practice, Clayman has been actively involved in education. He has held positions as an adjunct faculty member at RISD and has been a visiting artist at various institutions, including Kent State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Sheriden College in Toronto.

In recent years, Clayman has taken on new challenges in academia. In 2024, he began his tenure as the Effron Family Endowed Chair in Glass at the University of the Arts, leading the Glass concentration in the Craft + Material Studies program. This position, the first endowed chair in the university’s history, recognizes Clayman’s outstanding contributions to the field of glass art.

Throughout his career, Daniel Clayman has consistently pushed the boundaries of glass as an artistic medium, bridging the gap between traditional glass art and contemporary sculpture. His work continues to inspire and challenge perceptions of what can be achieved with glass, light, and form.