Cappy Thompson

Cappy Thompson
Born (1952-01-22) January 22, 1952 (age 74)
Alexandria, Virginia
EducationEvergreen State College
Known forGlass art, enamel work
Notable workDreaming of Spirit Animals; Gathering the Light

Cappy Thompson (born January 22, 1952) is an American glass artist known for her reverse-painted enamel work. Her work often incorporates narrative imagery drawn from a range of sources, including religious traditions, folklore, and medieval legend. She lives in Seattle, Washington.

Early life and education

Cappy Thompson was born January 22, 1952 in Alexandria, Virginia. She graduated in 1976 from The Evergreen State College, where she studied painting and printmaking.

Career

Dreaming of Spirit Animals, Sea-Tac Airport

Thompson has been an artist in residence at Pilchuck Glass School and is a recipient of the school’s Libenský Award. She has taught at the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, the Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle, Washington and UrbanGlass in Brooklyn, New York.

Her best-known public works include Dreaming of Spirit Animals at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Gathering the Light in the lobby of the Museum of Glass in Tacoma.

Artistic style

Thompson’s work draws on a range of sources, including Hindu and Buddhist traditions, fables, and medieval legends, and often incorporates narrative imagery. She began her career as a painter of stained glass and uses transparency as a central feature of her work. Her glass vessels are typically reverse-painted using enamel techniques. She has been described as a leading American artist working in transparent enamelling.

Solo exhibitions

Thompson has held solo exhibitions, including at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Alabama, in 2006.

Honors and awards

Selected awards include:

Personal life

Thompson lives in Seattle, Washington.

References

  1. 1 2 "I was dreaming of Spirit Animalsl by Cappy Thompson". Port of Seattle. Archived from the original on 14 April 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  2. ↑ "Dreaming of Spirt Animals – The Glass Art of Cappy Thompson (2004) 33:00 – Evergreen Visual History Archive". Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-12. Retrieved 2012-06-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ↑ "Concourse A". Archived from the original on 2012-08-21. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  5. ↑ Drabeck, Bernard A. (Dec 30, 2007). "Cappy Thompson: Creating, Experimenting". The Olympian. Retrieved 8 April 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Cappy Thompson". Washington Arts. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-12. Retrieved 2012-06-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ "Museum of Glass - Cappy Thompson's Gathering the Light". Archived from the original on 2011-10-12. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  9. ↑ Hale, Julie, ed. (2010). Masters: Blown Glass: Major Works by Leading Artists. New York: Sterling Publishing. p. 264. ISBN 978-1600594748.
  10. ↑ Drabeck, Bernard A. (June 25, 2006). "Fascinating glass designs dominate new space". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 2 April 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Studio Art Glass". Archived from the original on 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  12. ↑ "Pilchuck Glass School : John H. Hauberg Fellowship". Archived from the original on 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  13. ↑ "Cappy Thompson". Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2012-06-07.