The Gaffer: Tyler Kimball Born and raised in Kansas City, Tyler Kimball has gone to all lengths to bring great glass art to the Kansas City area as well as creating installation art and gift glass alike for places and people around the globe . He had worked in over 50 different studios through residencies, visiting artist stints, and contracted hire before building up Monarch Glass Studio. He has shown work in galleries and museums internationally and has public art installed around the country. His passion for working in glass has led him down many different avenues over the years and his favorite work is always just around the next turn. Check out great process videos and much more on Instagram @coach_kimball
Glassblower/Shipping Manager: Alison Siegel Having moved to Kansas City from way of Brooklyn, New York, Siegel has worked with hot glass for over 14 years and brings great technical knowledge as well as limitless creativity to Monarch Glass Studio. Her work has shown around the country and is currently represented by Heller Gallery in Chelsea, New York.
Glassblower/Lead Tech: Cole Kennedy Recently graduating from Emporia State University with an emphasis in glass-forming, Cole also finds interest in woodworking, metal fabrication, and many other forms of creating. He often turns to kiln-casting in glass-work, using his sculpting abilities to create molds to form glass. He currently lives in Kansas City, Kansas.
Stained Glass Fabricator: Adam Gard Adam brings 25 years of stained glass fabrication to the team. He is well versed in a wide array of techniques, including copper foil, lead, paint, CAD cartoon work, and glazing. He has worked at many different studios over the years as well as running his own. He is pleased to be part of the glass community at Monarch Glass Studio. He is also a proud parent of five!
Studio Assistant: Elise Gard Elise grew up in Lawrence, KS and is a recent Environmental Studies graduate from the University of Kansas. She has always loved expressing her creativity through jewelry making, rug tufting, embroidery, and other art forms. While Elise is new to glassblowing, she always enjoys coming to work each day for the opportunity to learn more and improve her skills.
Studio Assistant: Steph Becker Steph recently moved to Kansas City, MO from Brooklyn, NY where she worked as a freelance illustrator and studio assistant. She is grateful for the welcoming and generous art community she has found in Kansas City. She enjoys the challenge of working with glass and is excited for the opportunity to learn and grow as an artist at Monarch.
The Intern: Rotating A program at Monarch Glass studio offered to those with some experience in glassblowing and wanting to attain more knowledge of a running studio. The program runs for seven weeks in the Fall and Spring. The intern commits to one day per week to the studio and receives a free day with assistance on the last day of the program to use the new skills they learned in crating their own work. Email tyler@monarchglassstudio.com if you'd like to be considered for the next intern rotation. Previous Interns: Spring 2016- LeRoy Grubbs, Fall 2016- Josh Fredock Spring 2017- Justin George, Fall 2017- Katie Hogan Spring 2018- Ryan Thomas, Fall 2018- Jason Bell Spring 2019- Will Weirick Spring 2020- Hannah Fine, Fall 2020 - Devin Taylor Spring 2021- Kailyn Alani, Fall 2021 - Maggie Curran Spring 2023 - Ivan Noble
The Monarch Crew Club: 2015: Tyler Kimball, Kevin Platt, Katie Hogan, Katie Hubbs 2016: Tyler Kimball, Katie Hubbs, Willie Haynes, Max Grossman 2017: Tyler Kimball, Katie Hubbs, Alison Siegel, Jason Bauer, Romina Gonzalez, DJ Benyosef, Jonathan Bolivar, Amanda Patenaude, Katie Hogan 2018: Tyler Kimball, Jonathan Bolivar, Katie Hogan, Amanda Patenaude, Madeline Almeida, Alison Siegel 2019: Tyler Kimball, Jonathan Bolivar, Katie Hogan, Alison Siegel, Jack Hedrick, Justin George, Christian Salazar, Ryan Thomas, Dylan Betz 2020: Tyler Kimball, Alison Siegel, Katie Hogan, Alison Siegel, Christian Salazar, Dylan Betz, Madeline Almeida, Aubrey Barnett, Jonathan Bolivar, Jarryd Pezzeli, Scott Fouche, Kevin Miller 2021: Tyler Kimball, Alison Siegel, Scott Fouche, Kevin Miller, Annie Honn, Jack Hedrick, Cole Kennedy, Kailyn Alani, Maggie Curran 2022: Tyler Kimball, Alison Siegel, Kevin Miller, Cole Kennedy, RJ Unger, Kailyn Alani, Adam Gard Jackie Polofka, Joel King, Jason Bauer, Will Weirick, Elise Gard, Steph Becker 2023: Tyler Kimball, Alison Siegel, Cole Kennedy, Adam Gard, Elise Gard, Steph Becker, Kailyn Alani
Previous Instructors at Monarch Glass Studio: Tyler Kimball, Katie Hubbs, Willie Haynes, Alison Siegel, Amanda Patenaude, Jonathan Bolivar, Danny White, Jack Hedrick, DJ Benyosef, Christian Salazar, Jeff Ballard, Joe Tsoulfas