Preston Singletary facts for kids

Preston Singletary (born 1963) is a Native American glass artist. He is famous for using glass to create beautiful artworks inspired by his Tlingit heritage.

Preston Singletary's Life Story

Preston Singletary was born in 1963 in San Francisco, California. He grew up near Seattle, Washington. His great-grandparents told him many stories. His great-grandmother, Susie Johnson Bartlett Gubatayo, was from Sitka, Alaska. She was part of the Eagle clan of the Tlingit people. Preston follows this family line, which is a matriarchal society. This means the family line is traced through the mother's side.

How Preston Started with Glass Art

In 1979, when Preston was 15, he met Dante Marioni. Dante's father, Paul Marioni, was also a glass artist. After high school, Preston was a musician. Dante asked him to work as a night watchman at a glass-blowing studio called Glass Eye in Seattle. Preston quickly learned about glass art. He soon joined one of the studio's production teams.

In 1984, Preston attended a workshop at Pilchuck Glass School. This school is famous for teaching glass art. He has since been a teacher and student there. He also became a member of its board. Preston has blown glass in many countries, including Sweden, Italy, and Finland.

Connecting with His Tlingit Roots

In the late 1980s, Preston began adding traditional Tlingit designs to his art. He worked with other Native American artists from the Northwest Coast. One artist, Joe David, taught him a lot about Native culture. He learned about Northwest Coast formline design, which is a special art style.

Preston Singletary's Art Message

Preston Singletary explains his journey with glass. He started working with glass in 1982. He did not know how much he would connect with it. His art found a new purpose when he used designs from his Tlingit heritage.

He has become very skilled with glass and traditional formline design. This has helped him explore his culture and his chosen art material.

Preston's glass art shows that Native artists can use new materials. It proves that Indigenous people are still here. They express who they are through their art and culture.

Preston Singletary's Artworks

Safe Journey (2021) at the Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC in 2022

At first, Preston's art was like European glass art. He especially liked the Modernist style. In 1993, he worked in Scandinavia for six months. There, his art mixed clean Scandinavian styles with traditional Tlingit designs. He felt like he was "straddling two different worlds."

Today, Preston is known for using glass to show Tlingit themes. Many of his artworks feature clan crests. These include the killer whale, which is important to his family. He has worked with other Native artists. They created glass artworks like the Founders Totem Pole (2001). He also made the Devilfish Prow with Maori artist Lewis Tamihana Gardiner (2007).

Some people think Preston's work is not truly Tlingit. This is because he uses glass instead of traditional materials like wood. But Preston believes he is "transforming the culture." He thinks artists should be allowed to create new paths.

He says his art tries to be seen as more than just "ethnic art." But he also knows its power comes from his background. It connects him to history and his family line. He feels he is part of a long story.

In 2022, Preston's art was shown in an exhibit. It was called Raven and the Box of Daylight. This exhibit was at the National Museum of the American Indian. In the same year, he became a Fellow of the American Craft Council. Several of his pieces were bought by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. They are now part of the Renwick Gallery's collection.

Special Art Projects

Public Art and Books

In 2024, Preston Singletary and artist David Franklin were chosen for a special project. They created a public art sculpture in Seattle's Pioneer Square. They also worked on other public art projects across the country.

In 2023, Preston wrote a book called Fusion Notes. It is a visual memoir about his life and art. The book's title shows his many interests. These include his Tlingit background, music, and glass art.

Scenic Design for Ballet

In 2025, Preston Singletary was the scenic designer for a ballet. It was The Pacific Northwest Ballet's production of "The Sleeping Beauty." The show opened on January 31, 2025.

"Raven and the Box of Daylight" Exhibit

In 2022, Preston Singletary's work was featured in a special show. It was called Preston Singletary: Raven and the Box of Daylight. This exhibit traveled to many museums. It was at The Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA (2018). It also visited The Wichita Art Museum, KS (2020). The exhibit was at the National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, DC (2022). It also went to the Chrysler Museum of Art, VA (2023). In 2024, it was at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, OK. In 2025, it was at the Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, IN.

This exhibit tells the Tlingit origin story of Raven. Raven transforms the world by bringing light to people. He brings the stars, moon, and sun. The exhibit takes visitors on a journey from darkness to light.

The Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA, organized this exhibit with Preston. Miranda Belarde-Lewis, PhD, was the guest curator. The visitor experience was designed by zoe I juniper.

Preston Singletary's Music

Preston Singletary is also a musician. He co-founded and plays bass in the band Khu.éex’. Khu.éex’ is an Indigenous band. It has many creative members, including storytellers and activists. They work together to raise awareness about social issues. These issues often come from Native American struggles. They also include problems that affect everyone.

Bernie Worrell, who has passed away, also helped start the band. He was an elder with African American and Cherokee heritage. He played with many musicians. He was a founding member of the famous band Parliament-Funkadelic. He also played with Talking Heads and released solo albums.

Preston uses music to share his modern view of Native culture. This connects to his glass art.

Awards and Recognition

Preston Singletary has received many important awards:

• 2024 Asian Hall of Fame, Class of 2024 Pacific Northwest, Seattle, WA.
• 2022 Arts Innovator Award, Artist Trust, Seattle, WA.
• 2022 College of Fellows Award, American Craft Council, Minneapolis, MN.
• 2021 Master of the Medium - James Renwick Alliance for Craft, Washington, DC
• 2019 Artist Laureate – The Rainier Club, Seattle, WA.
• 2018 Governor's Arts Award – Individual, Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia, WA.

Where to See His Art

Preston Singletary's artworks are in many famous collections:

• Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, NY
• Canadian Museum of History
• Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY (Rakow Commission)
• Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI
• Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, IN
• Microsoft Arts Collection, Redmond, WA
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
• National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
• National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY
• Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
• Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
• Sealaska Heritage, Juneau, AK
• Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS