There are more reality competition shows out right now than most people would know what to do with, but one that stands out from the crowd is Blown Away, the only glass-blowing competition on television. The show just released its third season on Netflix, and the creativity and finesse of the artists continue to astound audiences.
For those who want to see more from their favorites, social media is the place to go, where the artists share their newest artwork and the processes behind them for their fans to see. All ten artists highlighted in season 3 show off their work on Instagram, and a few have a presence on Twitter and TikTok as well.
Brenna Baker
Brenna Baker began working with glass at the age of 14, after which she traveled to the United States and the rest of the world to perfect her techniques. Alongside her artistry, Baker is an extremely talented businesswoman, founding her own company and partnering with Celebrity Cruises to bring glassblowing into the luxury travel industry.
As the most social media-savvy contestant on season three, Baker can be found both personally and professionally on multiple social media platforms. She has a personal Instagram account (brennabakerglass), along with Instagram (hollywoodhotglass), Twitter (HotGlassArt), and TikTok (HollywoodHotGlass) accounts for her company, Hollywood Hot Glass.
Minhi England
Minhi England earned her BFA in 2010 and has been working professionally in the glassblowing field ever since. Much of her work is inspired by her experience of grief as a young widow, which can be seen through her captured breath designs and her role with Artful Ashes.
Those looking for more of her work can turn to her website, her Instagram page (m.i.n.h.i), or her TikTok (imstillminhi). Across these three platforms, fans can learn about her inspiration, see her process, and admire the final products.
Dan Friday
Dan Friday is a member of the Lummi Nation, which is an intrinsic part of his art. According to his website, he blends Native American culture with modern glassblowing techniques to provide a new perspective on the field. Since 2007, he has owned and operated a small hot shop by the name of Friday Glass.
Friday can be found on Instagram (danfriday) and Twitter (DanFriday), where he highlights his work and the people and things that matter most to him. On a stressful day, turn to Blown Away or Dan Friday's social media pages for a soothing artistic experience.
Maddy Hughes
Maddy Hughes is one of the youngest contestants from season three, with fewer years on Earth than many of the other artists have spent studying glass blowing. This should be an inspiration to viewers, as it shows that they can do amazing things even with limited experience. She comes from the United Kingdom, where she studied various forms of art over the last decade.
Hughes's work can be found on Instagram (maddy_h_glass) as well as on her website. Her work tends to highlight colors and textures, showing off the wonder of glass, but also includes advocacy work, such as her Plastic Beach installation.
Claire Kelly
Claire Kelly earned her BFA in 1996 and has been making unique works of art ever since. Her pieces tend to be colorful, exploring the relationships between humanity, animals, and the environment. In each one, her unique linework shows how intricate glasswork can be.
Kelly's work can be found on Instagram under the name @clairekellyglass, where she showcases the animals and cane pattern-work that dominates her art. At this time, she has no other public social media accounts.
John Moran
John Moran is an American glassblower living and working in Belgium. He refers to his genre of glasswork as Pop Political, encompassing "works of art that fall into the realm of society, politics, pop-culture, material, and craftsmanship." Seeing Moran's unique take on the art form proves why Blown Away is one of the best reality competition shows out there.
In addition to his Instagram page (johnsleepymoran), Moran and his work can be found on YouTube (backdoorart) and TikTok (johnsleepymoran). These accounts allow him to show fans his process, explaining how and why he makes the work he does.
Trenton Quiocho
Trenton Quiocho has been working with glass for over ten years, during which time he has worked at several prominent glasswork institutions as an artist and teaching assistant. His work is inspired by different cultural techniques, with a particular focus on indigenous techniques and styles.
He has a private Instagram account (amocat_lowlife), but his work can be seen on his professional page (basoglass), which is where he and his colleagues show off their latest work and discuss the inspirations behind them.
John Sharvin
John Sharvin has been working with glass for fourteen years and is currently a studio manager for the Pittsburgh Glass Center. His work explores the boundaries between reality and fiction, particularly about memory.
His website provides a spot for fans to look at and/or buy his latest projects, while his social media focuses on how they were created. Those interested in following his career can turn to his Instagram (yeahsharvin) or TikTok (john_sharvin) pages to see where he goes next.
Rob Stern
Every season has a big name or two, and season three's is Rob Stern, who has thirty years of experience under his belt. He describes his work as existing "at the crossroads where humans and nature intersect," creating numerous projects that seem to capture motion in the glass's structure. His many years of experience may make him a cut-throat winner in the making.
Stern can be found on Instagram under the name @robsternartglass, where he shares finished products and videos showing how he created them. For a more extensive picture of his repertoire, his website contains a thorough gallery of his work, from sculptures to pyrographs to furniture.
Grace Whiteside
Grace Whiteside is a part glass artist, part performance artist, and that intersection allows them to connect with their artform in a whole different way. Much of their work is concerned with the connection between bodies, and their company Sticky Glass explicitly donates profits to an organization that protects the rights and safety of black, trans, and immigrant individuals.
Their work can be found on either their Instagram page (graciewhiteside) or Sticky Glass's page (getstickyglass). Between the two, Grace's fans can learn a lot about their process and the newest designs they're putting together.