Early Life and Education

William Morris was born on July 25, 1957, in Carmel, California. He pursued higher education at California State University, Chico, and Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington.

Career

Morris’s journey into the world of glass art began in 1978 when he started working as a truck driver for the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington. This position introduced him to the medium of glass, which would become his lifelong passion. Under the mentorship of Dale Chihuly, a co-founder of Pilchuck, Morris quickly advanced to the role of chief gaffer by the early 1980s.

In the mid-1980s, Morris began to develop his own artistic style and eventually established his own studio. His work is renowned for its transformation of glass into forms that mimic wood, bone, fiber, and sinew, often drawing inspiration from ancient civilizations such as Egyptian, Asian, Native American, and Latin American cultures. His art explores themes of human origins, myth, ancestry, and the relationship between humanity and nature.

Morris’s innovative techniques, including the use of oxy/propane torches to achieve high levels of detail, have set his work apart in the field of glass art. He collaborated with a core team of assistants throughout his career, including Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen, Jon Ormbrek, and Randy Walker, among others.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his career, William Morris received numerous awards, reflecting his significant contributions to the field of glass art:

• Master of the Medium Award, James Renwick Alliance, Washington, DC (2005)
• Artist as Hero Award, National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, PA (2002)
• Visionary Award, American Craft Museum, New York, NY (2001)
• Outstanding Achievement in Glass, UrbanGlass Third Annual Awards Dinner, New York, NY (1997)
• Distinguished Alumni Award, California State University, Chico, California (1997)
• National Endowment for the Arts, individual artist grant (1994)
  
  

Exhibitions and Collections

Morris’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and is held in prestigious public collections worldwide, including:

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
• Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY
• American Glass Museum, Millville, NJ
• Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Hokkaido, Japan
• Musee Des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France
• Auckland Museum, Auckland, New Zealand
• Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England
  
  

Retirement and Personal Life

William Morris retired from glassblowing in 2007 at the age of 49. He currently resides in both Washington and Hawaii. Throughout his career, he spent time in various natural settings, including Idaho’s Bitterroot Mountains and Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains, which further influenced his work.

Legacy

Morris’s work continues to captivate and intrigue the art community with its hauntingly evocative and beautiful glass sculptures. His ability to transform glass into forms that evoke ancient artifacts has left a lasting impact on the history of art, making him a pivotal figure in the modern Studio Glass movement.

In summary, William Morris’s career is marked by his innovative techniques, profound thematic explorations, and significant contributions to the field of glass art. His legacy endures through his celebrated works and the inspiration he provides to future generations of artists.