Our Team

Co-Founder & Creative Director

Ben Tullman is one of the founders of Ignite Glass Studios and is the Creative Direc­tor and Studio Manager. He first encountered glass at age 12 making glass beads. Over the past 16 years, Ben has honed his skillset studying with master glass artists such as Davide Salvadore, Karen Willenbrink-Johnson and Martin Janecky. The focus of his artwork is taking traditional techniques, pushing the limits of scale and developing new techniques through experimentation.

In his words, “I love the inherent unpredictability and mystery of glass. You have to be adaptive and flexible to work with it because it has a life of its own. Every time you work with glass it challenges you and gives you new opportunities to learn and grow.”

Director of Sales

Bio coming soon

Director of Education

Joe Waropay joined the Ignite team in 2013 and is a resident artist and instructor at the studio. Waropay,  also serves as the lead Education instructor for Ignite, developing and implementing glassblowing programs and STEM learning opportunities for all ages in Chicago. In addition to his glassblowing skills, his capacity in sculpture and alternative materials have brought a new dynamic to Ignite. Waropay’s artwork reflects themes of Growth and Develop­ment and Memories into glass and mixed media conceptual sculpture.

Joe was born and raised in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, where he was active in sports throughout his youth. He attended Western Illinois University and the University of South Car­olina-Beaufort as a Division-1 baseball player while also majoring in art and developed his passion for glass under John Miller at Illinois State University.

Production Manager

Joshua DeWall was born and raised in the small town of Galena, IL. From a young age, Joshua was attracted to the medium of glass; upon graduation from high school, it became his lifelong commitment. He received a Bachelor of Fine Art from Southern Illinois University and also a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY.
 He has worked nationwide as a glass gaffer, designer, assistant, instructor, and artist at institutions such as: the Pittsburgh Glass Center; the Rochester Institute of Technology; Snow Farm, Williamsburg, MA; Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina; and the Chrysler Museum Glass Studio in Norfolk, VA.  Joshua has received numerous awards including a fellowship at the Creative Glass Center of America; Artist Residency at The Works in Newark, OH as well as a residency at the Sonoron Glass Academy in Tucson, AZ, and a scholarship to Pilchuck Glass School. Joshua has been featured in New Glass Review 32 and in Flow Magazine. Currently, he is the production manager at Ignite Glass Studios in Chicago, IL.

Senior Artist & Hot Shop Technician

Charles Matz is a flameworker and furnace glassblower with 10 years of experience. His work ranges from small, intricate jewelry and functional objects to large scale blown sculpture and scientific glass. He has played an integral role in the design and creation of numerous Ignite Glass products and custom commission works.

Charlie’s work has been on exhibit at events like Chicago’s SOFA Expo and the Glass Art Society conference in Murano, Italy. His sculptural sea creature wine decanters have been featured in the Design MEXICO Magazine and can be seen at fine dining restaurants around the world. Charlie has also designed many service pieces for Michelin star restaurants in Chicago like Alinea, NEXT, and Esmé.

CTO, Senior Artist

Arvin Makhsous is a multitalented artist in several mediums, including music, film, painting, sculpture, and glass. Arvin started his career in glass during his senior year of high school, doing mosaic, fusing, and flame working projects. Upon discovering his passion for glass art, he was introduced to a young Ignite Glass Studios by his peers. Shortly after, he started an apprenticeship under lead Ignite artist Ben Tullman, who trained him specifically in Italian tech­niques and larger scale blown glass art.

Arvin enjoys exploring new forms through creating abstract three-dimensional vessels and flat fusings through the use of murrine and canes. He also enjoys putting together large installa­tions that require multiple components.

Artist, Instructor & Venue Liaison

 

Artist & Instructor

Eleanor Victoria Harvey is a Chicago native who joined the Ignite Glass Studios team in 2019 as a studio artist and glass instructor. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with a minor in Anthropology in 2018 from Illinois State University.

Eleanor is predominantly a glass artist (blown, fused, and flameworked glass) but also enjoys painting, drawing, printmaking and ceramics. She makes both functional and conceptual art and is interested in color, pattern, and figurative forms. Eleanor is also inspired by upcycled/recycled art and she utilizes a lot of scrap glass, glass trimmings, and broken pieces, especially in her fusings. Eleanor enjoys learning new techniques, collaborating with other artists and sharing her love for glass through teaching classes.

Instagram- @eleanorblowss

Venue Liaison

Bio coming soon