Fine artist Carlyn Ray is a glass visionary and storyteller in light. At a young age, Carlyn discovered her unrelenting passion for glass, the urge for involvement in community art and the desire to create large-scale pieces. After training for a decade with master glass artists around the world, including time with Chihuly Inc. and studies at The Corning Museum of Glass, Carlyn brings “Emergence: Transformation Through Glass and Light” to The Grace Museum, a solo exhibition debuting on Saturday, March 7.
“The material of glass is phenomenal; it is both like liquid and crystal and one of the few materials which can transfer and hold light,” says Carlyn. “Hand-blown glass has a unique energy. A beautiful piece of glass can transform a room into a magical place. It is a gift to be able to share this process and passion with others.”
Glass blowing begins with molten sand heated to lava-like temperatures, which is then shaped by the artist’s breath. The ancient process dates back thousands of years, originating from craftsmen in the Middle East before spreading through Europe. In 1291, all Venetian glassmakers moved to the island of Murano, where it became the global center for luxury glass. This balance of precision and intuition remains central to Carlyn’s work, where light, movement and material come together in a living dialogue.
In addition to the exhibition at The Grace, Carlyn is deeply invested in sharing her love for glass and the process through her community studio Dallas Glass Art, where visitors participate in hands-on classes. She is also the founder of Art Reaching Out (ARO), a non-profit designed to excite creative learning by incorporating hands-on STEAM lessons through making a glass piece, usually a site-specific installation. ARO is aimed towards working with underprivileged students, especially young women.
“Emergence: Transformation Through Glass and Light” explores the immersive qualities of glass, examining how light, color and form shape emotional experience and perception. Carlyn invites close engagement, encouraging viewers to move through the space and observe how shifting light and reflection alter each piece. Rooted in the idea that art can create moments of stillness and curiosity, the exhibition offers a contemplative environment shaped by material, movement and illumination.
“’Sophia’ is the emotional and conceptual anchor piece of the exhibition,” Ray explains. “It embodies the central themes of ‘Emergence’: transformation, movement and the space between what was and what is becoming. The spiral form and shifting color mirror the journey each piece in the exhibition explores in its own way, inviting viewers to move through light, shadow and reflection as part of a larger cycle of change.”
The exhibition features over 20 glass installations with suspended and interactive elements to surprise and delight each visitor. A free, public artist reception with Carlyn will be hosted at The Grace on Thursday, April 16 at 6 p.m. Additional classes and artist conversations will also take place throughout the exhibition, which will remain on view through Sept. 19.
To learn more about Carlyn Ray and The Grace Museum exhibition, visit carlynraydesigns.com or follow @ CarlynRayDesigns on social media.
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