Our Team

Joe Waropay joined the Ignite team in 2013 and is a resident artist and instructor at the studio. He is also the lead youth instructor for Ignite's nonprofit partner, Ignition Community Glass, developing and implementing glassblowing programs for under-resourced youth in Chicago. In addition to his glassblowing skills, his capacity in sculpture and printmaking have brought a new dynamic to Ignite. His 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.

Kat Skinner was born on the Naval Air Station Sigonella located in Sicily, Italy, in 1993. She was born to Michael and Judy who met while both being in the military. Kat grew up in the rustic countryside of Misterbianco, while she attended a private Roman Catholic academy in the neighboring town of Motta Sant' Anastasia, where Italian was the only language spoken. Kat was able to attend this academy till she was about 10 years old and then she and her father had to relocate to Hayward, Wisconsin.

Once she graduated from Hayward High School she went on to further her education at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (UWSP) in central Wisconsin. Originally she attended UWSP for Interior Architecture but she didn't find this to be the right fit. She was introduced to glass and metalworking which initiated her switch to a more hands-on degree. Kat graduated in the spring of 2016 with a Bachelor of Fine Art with a Three-Dimensional Emphasis and an Art History Minor.Kat is currently in Chicago, IL as an Artist/Instructor with Ignite Glass Studios and Ignition Community Glass.