About the Artist

Glenn Elvig was born in Houston, Texas. He graduated with a B.S. in Education/Ceramics from the University of Minnesota and spent 3 years as a production potter and high school art teacher. During his last teaching assignment in Worland, Wyoming, Glenn attended an art conference at The Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, featuring well known keynote speakers George Morrison, artist and University of Minnesota professor, and Stan Lynde, artist and creator of the renowned comic-strip “Rick O’Shay”. Lynde’s inspiring talk gave Glenn new artistic focus for a new studio and career back in Minneapolis. Other artists influencing along the way have been Carolyn Vosburg Hall, Don Bryant, Claes Oldenburg, Ellsworth Kelly, Jim Christopherson, Curt Hoard, and Gary Larson of the “Far Side”.

2007 marks the 27th anniversary of the start of studio work for Glenn Elvig. His new St. Paul home and studio is located just 15 minutes north of both downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. The studio is attached to the showroom which includes a wall of glass that overlooks a sculpture garden and forty acres of forest and wildlife reserve along the scenic Rice Creek. The underground studio opens at each end and the studio’s neighbors – raccoons, deer, wild turkeys, owls, red-tail hawks, egrets – cast a curious eye to what is being created inside. Glenn’s new pup Lucy Bleu – tries to impress upon all that she is now in charge!

After spending a number of active years outside the studio – first president of the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild (1981), president of the Minnesota Crafts Council (1986), chairman of the American Craft Association (1996), and most recently trustee on the board of directors of the American Craft Council (1996-2001) – Glenn has turned to devoting more time for studio work and preparing to open the FlipCity Gallery. The opening is planned for spring of 2007.

Recently, Glenn participated in the acclaimed international show “Celebrating Boxes” which was accompanied by the book of the same title. The book and show were produced by well-known British artists Peter Lloyd and Andrew Crawford. Shortly after, Glenn’s work was featured in the wonderful new book “400 Boxes”. Elvig’s “Old Handyman’s Tea” - a permanent piece in the Hechinger Collection “Tools As Art”- is traveling internationally for the next 3 years – on view along side works of such noted artists Jim Dine, Red Grooms, Wayne Thiebaud, and Claes Oldenburg. Glenn recently finished a commission to return the library of a St. Paul residence designed by Marcel Breuer to the original specifications. Glenn is also working on a new series of paintings as well as a new group of studio furniture that is planned to debut in New York City in the spring of 2007.

Glenn Elvig’s work has been exhibited and published extensively both nationally and internationally. Media coverage of his work has appeared in Spain, Italy, South Africa, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, England as well as the United States. Galleries and museums such as the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and The Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, have shown and purchased Elvig’s work.

“27 years ago I followed a childhood dream of working as an artist. I had tried working as a potter earlier but after producing 75 mugs one day, I realized I never again wanted to have two days in a row of doing the same thing. I am truly lucky, blessed by God, and thankful for the opportunity to do what I do. I have been surrounded by love, support, humor, and inspiration – from my wonderful past pup Topaz to the new stealth shadow Lucy Bleu…….to so many wonderful people…….family, friends, teachers, students, customers. I look forward to another 27 years knowing that being surrounded in this way is what makes working in the studio such a joyous thing. Thanks to all!”

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