Thomas Philabaum

Tom Philabaum built his first glassblowing studio in 1975 in downtown Tucson, Arizona, and opened a gallery in 1982. The following year, 1983, the Glass Arts Society (G.A.S.) conference took place in Tucson, with Tom as the liason for the local glass community. In 1985, the present location became the new home of Philabaum Glass, and in 1997, the G.A.S. conference returned to Tucson with Tom as Co-Chair, and Philabaum Glass Gallery & Studio again being a major venue for demos and exhibitions.

Tom and his wife Dabney ran a second gallery location in the Tucson foothills from 2002-2007. Since that time, they have re-focused their efforts at the original home of Philabaum Glass in downtown Tucson, where Dabney runs Philabaum Glass Gallery, showing artists from across the country, and Tom continues to spearhead the studio of blown glass, and the more current sculptural and site specific art, using a broad array of techniques, including kiln casting, fusing, slumping, and dalle de verre.

Born: April 12, 1947 Toledo, OH

Education: University of Arizona MFA 1983; University of Wisconsin MA 1973; Southern Illinois University BA 1969