Alfred University News

Alfred University hosts exhibition featuring work by visiting artists in Black Glass Arts Series

An exhibition of original work created in February by visiting artists in the Alfred University School of Art and Design’s Black Glass Artist Series opens Friday, Feb. 25, in the IDEA Lab in Harder Hall.


ALFRED, NY – An exhibition of original work created in February by visiting artists in the Alfred University School of Art and Design’s Black Glass Artist Series opens Friday, Feb. 25, in the IDEA Lab in Harder Hall.

The Black Glass Artist Series featured three glass artists of color, who each visiting the Alfred University campus for one-week residencies. The event was held during February as an observance of Black History Month, with artists presenting artist talks and giving demonstrations of their practice in the Alfred University School of Art and Design’s Hot Glass Shop.

On Friday, the Black Glass Artist Show, featuring work created by the visiting artists, will open with a reception at 5 p.m. in the IDEA Lab, located on the second floor of Harder Hall. Snacks and drinks will be served; the event is free and open to the public. The exhibition will remain on view through March 15, 2022.

Artists visiting Alfred University as part of the Black Glass Artist Series, and whose work will be included in the exhibition, are:

  • N’Kosi Barber, an illustrator and sculptural glass artist from Chicago’s South Side. Barber is an instructor and peer educator with Project Fire, a program that teaches wounded victims of gunfire the skills of the hot glass shop. He draws inspiration from his Project Fire students and mentors, noting that learning patience and trust have a great deal to do with his perseverance in the art form. (Week of Jan. 31-Feb. 4)
  • SaraBeth Post, an interdisciplinary artist primarily utilizing glass in sculpture, utilitarian wares, and jewelry. Post’s studies of pattern and color pave a path to explore human development juxtaposed to spirituality. Her production line is produced under the name Ultra Lit, a pen name coined as a reflection on her navigation in the world as a mixed race light-skinned woman. (Week of Feb. 7-11)
  • Cedric Mitchell, a Los-Angeles based glass artist inspired by an eccentric mix of graffiti art, pop culture, mid-century modern and Memphis design. Originally from Oklahoma, Mitchell was an emerging local hip-hop artist in Tulsa when he began creating glass art. Today he creates work that ranges from functional to decorative art, and is a teacher at the Los Angeles Glass Center. (Week of Feb. 21-25)

The series is the brainchild of third-year B.F.A. student Adeye Jean-Baptist from Scarsdale, NY. Last year, Jean-Baptiste proposed to host a series of visiting glass artists who hail from the afro diaspora. She led efforts to gain funding to support the series, including organizing an auction. The series is also supported by the School of Art and Design and its Sculpture Dimensional Studies Division, Student Senate, the Institute for Cultural Unity, and Olympic Color, a glassblowing supply company in Seattle, WA.