Samuel Decker at work

Born and raised in the Northwest, Samuel Decker developed an interest in art and working with his hands at a young age. He began working as a potter in his early teens. He discovered the art of glass in 1998 and realized that this was his true calling. He was on the team of glass blowers for Dale Chihuly in Seattle for nine years. He has also blown glass in Finland and Murano and has assisted many world renowned artists, including the master Italian blower Pino Signoretto, as well as James Mongrain, Paul DeSomma, Charlie Parriott in the US.

He started his own company, Shantitown Glass in 2003 in Seattle and then Samuel Art Glass, LLC in 2007. Samuel opened his studio, The Hot Shop in July 2011 in Eugene, OR. Samuel is well known for his giant multi-piece tropical wall flowers as well as his custom lighting fixtures. His artwork includes: ceiling installations, wall installations, lighting fixtures, vases and other free standing art vessels. Sam is also an accomplished welder and metal artist; thus he combines glass and metal in much of his work.

Artist Statement: “I love to work with glass, it is all about the present moment. Unlike other art mediums that can be reworked over time, blown glass only gives you one chance. If the moment isn’t right your piece ends up on the floor in a hundred pieces. When it is right, I can capture a moment in time that can never be reproduced.”

Professional Experience
1999 - 2008
Glass Blower – Chihuly Inc, Seattle

Feb 2003 and Feb 2007
Glass Blower – Chihuly Inc, Iittala factory Nuutajarvi, Finland

July 2003
Glass Blower - Murano, Italy

2001 – 2002
Glass Blower – Glass Eye, Seattle

May 2008, Sept 2009
Guest Artist Tacoma Glass Museum

Gallery Representation
Riversea Gallery, Astoria, OR
Blue Heron Gallery, Florence, OR
Eclectic Image Gallery, Wailea, HI
Old Hotel, Othello, WA
Nest, Eugene, OR
The Hot Shop, Eugene, OR
Six, Salem, OR
Allied Arts, Richland, WA

Commercial Commissions
Wall Wave, Kona Grill, Las Vegas, NV
Wall Flowers Installation, SaKa, Vancouver, BC
Custom Ceiling, Kona Grill, Eden Prairie, MN
Custom Ceiling, Kona Grill, Scottsdale, AZ
Custom Ceiling, Kona Grill, Tampa, FL
Custom Ceiling, Kona Grill, Woodbridge, NJ
Custom Ceiling, Kona Grill, Richmond, VA
Wall Flower, Ciento, Minneapolis, MN
Lighting, Wild Duck Cafe, Eugene, OR
Wall Flower, Paula Berg Design, Park City, UT
Awards, Chamber of Commerce, Eugene, OR
Wall Flowers, The Hot Shop, Eugene, OR

Residential Commissions
Hibiscus Chandelier, Private Residence, Waikiki, HI
Going In Circles, Private Residence, Portland, OR
Going In Circles, Private Residence, Eugene, OR
Going In Circles, Private Residence, Washington DC
Custom Chandelier, Private Residence, Park City, UT
Custom Chandelier, Private Residence, Park City, UT
Custom Chandelier, Private Residence, Park City, UT
Custom Chandelier, Private Residence, Scottsdale, AZ
Custom Chandelier, Private Residence, Austin, TX
Custom Chandelier, Private Residence, Seattle, WA
Custom Chandelier, Private Residence, Portland, OR
Custom Chandelier, Private Residence, Eugene, OR
Custom Wall Installation, Private Residence, Minneapolis, MN

Upcoming Projects
Wall Flowers Installation, Resort and Restaurant, Nicaragua
Wall Flowers and lighting, Wild Duck Cafe, Eugene, OR
Gallery Show, Six, Salem, OR
Fire Box, Front Royal, VA

© copyright 2012 Samuel Art Glass, LLC