Carlyn Ray Resume

SUMMARY

Carlyn Ray is a Dallas-based glass artist creating large-scale installations that investigate light as both material and phenomenon. Trained under Dale Chihuly at Chihuly Inc. (2007–2009) and at Penland School of Crafts and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Ray has built a 20-year practice spanning commissioned architectural glass and museum-based fine art. Her work — characterized by suspended forms, woven glass structures, and explorations of luminosity — recently debuted in a solo museum exhibition, Emergence: Transformation Through Glass and Light (The Grace Museum, 2026). Ray is the founder of Art Reaching Out (ARO), a nonprofit that brings glassmaking into underserved schools with a focus on young women.

GLASS EDUCATION

• The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA (2000–2004)
• University College of Learning Glass, Wanganui, New Zealand (2003)
• Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC (2005)
• Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME (2008)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• 2013–Present Founder & Director, Carlyn Ray Designs & Dallas Glass Art, Dallas, Texas
  Specializing in custom, site-specific fine art glass installations. WOBE & HUD certified woman-owned small business. Studio open to the public for glassblowing classes and demonstrations.
• 2013–Present Founder & Executive Director, Art Reaching Out (ARO), Dallas, Texas
  501(c)3 nonprofit providing educational STEAM programs for underserved student groups, with a focus on young women.
• 2007–2009 Project Manager and Glassblower, Chihuly Inc., Seattle, Washington
• 2009–2010 Glassblower, Celebrity Cruise Lines
  Demonstrated educational glassblowing shows while at sea.

AWARDS & HONORS

• 2020–2023 ASID Designer’s Choice Award Winner
• 2023 Dallas ISD Commitment to Elevating Education Award (via Art Reaching Out)
• 2019 Business Council for the Arts Obelisk Award Honoree
• 2016 AIA Dallas Community Honors Award Recipient

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

• College Art Association (CAA)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center – Art for Advocacy, Live Auction Feature (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
• Dallas Morning News, Stanley Korshak Sculpture Feature (February 2023)
• WFAA, Shaping DFW: Carlyn Ray (November 2022)
• Dallas Style & Design, “Radiant Rays of Light” (Fall 2019)
• Design Texas, “Caring to Share: The Magic of Glass” (2018)
• KERA Frame of Mind, “A Personal Journey With Quin Mathews” (2015)

SOLO & GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2026

• Abilene, Texas | The Grace Museum | Emergence: Transformation Through Glass and Light (solo exhibition)

2025

• Aspen, Colorado | Raven Gallery | Aspen ArtWeek, Featured Artist: Woven Glass
• Dallas, Texas | Dallas Love Field Airport | Sharing Light and Color

2024

• Dallas, Texas | Kips Bay Decorator Show House

2018

• Dallas, Texas | Dallas Love Field Airport | Home for the Holiday Season (with Boys and Girls Club)

2017

• Dallas, Texas | NorthPark Center | Illuminated Landscape (with SWA Group)

2016

• Dallas, Texas | NorthPark Center | Bouquet (with Girls Inc.)
• Dallas, Texas | Dallas Arboretum | Glass on the Lawn

2014

• Dallas, Texas | One Arts Plaza | Artist vs Architect

2012

• Dallas, Texas | Dallas Arboretum | Master Glass Show (during Chihuly at the Arboretum)
• Austin, Texas | Austin Bergstrom International Airport | Metal Arts Show

SELECTED PUBLIC COMMISSIONS

• Gathered Radiance, Abilene Heritage Square Library, Abilene, TX (2026)
• Fused and Blown Glass Sculpture, Garland Central Library, Garland, TX (2025)
• Lit Glass Bamboo, Parkside SO7, Fort Worth, TX (2014)

CORPORATE & INSTITUTIONAL COLLECTIONS

• Walmart Campus, Bentonville, AR
• Mercy Hospital, Durango, CO
• Hall Park Hotel, Autograph Collection, Frisco, TX
• Stanley Korshak, Dallas, TX
• Haynes Boone Law Firm, Dallas, TX
• The Crescent, Dallas, TX
• American Cancer Society, Dallas, TX
• Alexis Event Center, Fort Worth, TX
• Harris Methodist Hospital, Fort Worth, TX
• Baylor Scott and White Admin Building, Dallas, TX
• Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, Dallas, TX
• The Hockaday School, Dallas, TX
• Jesuit Dallas Museum, Dallas, TX
• Episcopal School of Dallas, Dallas, TX
• The Pearl Residencies, Silver Spring, MD
• Hilton, Parsippany, NJ

VISITING ARTIST LECTURES & PRESENTATIONS

• FGI Fall Forum Lecturer (2022)
• Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY
• University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
• West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX
• The Tyler Museum of Art, Tyler, TX
• Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
• Osaka School of Fine Arts, Osaka, Japan