Sophie Glenn ’12

Sophie Glenn ’12 is a woodworker, sculptor, metalworker, and furniture designer whose work has been featured in solo exhibitions, dozens of group exhibitions, and many publications.

Studying sculpture and drawing here at Purchase, she had an artistic epiphany when she encountered the work of renowned furniture artist Vivian Beer, the 2011 Wingate Artist in Residence.

“In college, I pursued art and studied sculpture but struggled to find my voice,” Glenn says. “At SUNY, I was introduced to furniture maker Vivian Beer, and it all fell into place. I remember welding for the first time, and it really struck me—this is what I have to do,” reports the Society of Arts and Crafts.

Glenn recently received the John D. Mineck Fellowship, a high-profile award with an unrestricted $25,000 prize given annually to an early-career furniture artist by Boston’s Society of Arts+Crafts.

She has exhibited her work across the country, including Blue Spiral 1 Gallery (NC), the Center for Art in Wood (PA), and the Metal Museum (TN), and has been fortunate to receive several grants, fellowships, and residencies to help advance her career.

Also an educator, Glenn has held academic appointments at Tennessee Technological University and Mississippi State University and taught workshops at A Workshop of Our Own (MD), Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts (TN), the Appalachian Center for Craft (TN), and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts (ME). 

In 2019–21 Glenn was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Sculpture at Mississippi State University. 

Based in Reading, PA, Glenn grew up in New York City and attended LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. She earned an MFA in Furniture Design and Woodworking from San Diego State University.

Follow the artist on Instagram @arcburn_furniture