About the Artist
Andi Lynn Hama is an Artist and Educator based in Toledo, Ohio. Her work comprises primarily of glass, drawing, and painting, often blending these processes together.
Andi attended Bowling Green State University where she studied K-12 Art Education, drawing, painting, and glassblowing. Intending to become a public school Art Teacher with a focus in 2-dimensional art, she was introduced to glassblowing in 2016, guided by Joel O’Dorisio and Alli Hoag.
While at BGSU, Andi started working at the Toledo Museum of Art as a glass studio artist and technician. The TMA fostered a broad sense of community in glass for Andi, from teaming up with colleagues, to collaborating with visiting artists from around the world during their residencies at the museum. Steve Cothern, who was Andi’s supervisor at the TMA, acted as a valuable mentor and role model in glass. Steve’s sharp wit and somewhat dry sense of humor, combined with precision while manipulating glass inspired her to echo this teaching style for the future. Andi received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art Education, Specializing in Glass in 2018. Andi left the TMA following graduation from BGSU to pursue teaching Art as she had originally planned.
Andi taught grades 6-8 Art from 2019-2021 at Willard Middle School. While there were many art lessons to teach, as well as life lessons to learn from in these years, Andi’s passion remained in the glass studio. She returned to the Toledo Museum of Art to continue making glass and teach flameworking classes. As she left the public school system, Andi was determined to focus fully in glass.
Andi currently works at Firenation Glass Studio and Gallery in Holland, Ohio. Since 2022, she began teaching glass experiences and assisting with glass production for the studio. She is now the hotshop studio manager, lead glassblowing instructor, and production director. Owned and established by Matthew Paskiet since 2002, Firenation is a small business serving a successful legacy of glass and experiences that Andi is proud to be a part of. Firenation has become Andi’s home base for teaching and creating glassworks, and she continues to refine her work every day.
Andi’s work spans a wide variety of decorative, sculptural, as well as functional pieces. Her signature series of drawings and paintings substitute traditional canvases for glass. Subject matter in her drawings and paintings focus mainly on portraits of people, animals, and nature scenes. Andi’s love of portraits, animals and natural subjects stems from her childhood.
Growing up near Lake Erie, Andi’s family would often spend summer days on their boat to visit beaches, Put-In-Bay, Kelley’s Island, and Cedar Point amusement park. Andi’s experiences of portrait drawing traces back to one of her first jobs at Cedar Point as a portrait artist. From people-watching, to shell collecting, and a fascination with animals, her work magnifies many of her life’s interests, whether they are translated through paper, pencils, paint, or glass.
