Gary Wilson

About the Artist

Gary’s childhood and young adulthood in Naples, Florida, are reflected in the colors and themes of his work—from the deep aquas and blues of his ocean bowls and platters to the vibrant sunset and sunrise scenes in his wall art. His Everglades collection features striking wildlife scenes, while his coastal collection emphasizes the ocean and the wildlife that inhabit Florida’s shores. In addition to his Florida themes, Gary has spent many summers in the mountains of the western United States and Canada, and his Western collection captures the beauty of the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and the bears and wolves that inhabit the region.

Gary learned the intricacies of fused glass art by taking courses from a renowned art studio and studying with individual glass artists between 2005 and 2010. He refined and adapted the stained glass techniques he learned in his early years to work with fused glass. He later taught fused glass at the Bonita Arts Center for several years before beginning to show his art regularly in juried art shows in 2014. His work is also featured in coastal art galleries in Florida and Maine.

While all glass is technically fusible, there is only one company in the United States that produces the range of colors and styles that can be successfully combined in this way. Gary begins by creating a multi-layer template to guide the cutting process, using hand tools, saws, and grinders to prepare each piece for the kiln. Much of his work achieves a dimensional effect by melting glass at temperatures that partially fuse the layers together. He has developed specialized firing schedules that vary depending on the size and thickness of the piece, and many of his artworks require multiple firings, with each stage adding more detail until the piece is complete.

His accomplishments include a Best of Show award at the Fernandina Beach Shrimp Boat Festival, serving as Artist in Residence at Delnor-Wiggins State Park, and being featured in the Cocoa Beach Wave Festivals as well as numerous other juried art shows. His art has also been exhibited in galleries across Florida, Maine, and Louisiana, and he is honored to have both individual and corporate collectors of his work.