Local glass-blower featured in exhibit now showing at Tucson Museum of Art

"Light on Glass," which recently opened at the Tucson Museum of Art, contains only about 20 sculptural glass pieces, making it one of the smaller exhibits that has been on display at the museum.

Among the artists featured in the exhibit is Tom Philabaum, a local artist and owner of Philabaum Contemporary Art Glass, 711 S. Sixth St. His pieces, like "Metallic Trailed Platter" and "Venerable Vessel," are both crafted using the age-old technique of glass-blowing.

Philabaum began his artistic career at Southern Illinois University, completing his bachelor's degree in art and education. Thirty-one years later, he said that he has decided to devote all his energy to glass-blowing and running his studio.

"I sort of backed into glass because after having children, the easiest way to make a living was blowing glass," he said.

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