Thomas Philabaum

Tom Philabaum studied glassblowing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under Harvey Littleton, who is considered the father of the American Studio Glass Art Movement. After graduating with a Masters in Glassblowing, Philabaum built his first glassblowing studio in 1975 in downtown Tucson. He opened his first gallery in 1982 on Congress Street. In 1985, Philabaum and his wife, Dabney, combined the studio and gallery in a transformed Tastee Freez restaurant. From 1985 – 2018, Philabaum and a team of glassblowers created unique glass art that was shown around the world. Philabaum retired from glassblowing in 2018, at which point the glassblowing studio was removed and the gallery expanded. Tom Philabaum continues to create a unique body of painted & fused glass, including platters and contemporary wall hangings. Tom Philabaum & Dave Klein co-founded the Sonoran Glass School, which has been teaching and promoting glass arts in Tucson for over 20 years. Tom Philabaum is a legend in the glass community and a true Tucson treasure.

SOURCE - https://philabaumglass.com/about (Oct 2025)