The Monarch Crew

The Team

Owner and Lead in all departments: 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 60 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 @crown_glass_pains

Special Projects and Administration: Alison Siegel
Having moved to Kansas City from way of Brooklyn, New York, Siegel has worked with hot glass for over 20 years and brings great technical knowledge as well as limitless creativity to Monarch Glass Studio. Her work is collected in museum internationally and is acclaimed for its strange and unique look. A mother of a baby boy, she is taking some time away currently but will be retuning to the studio soon.

Stained Glass Studio Manager and Lead 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 and grandfather of one!

Glassblowing gaffer: Keegan O'Brien
A graduate from Bowling Green's glass art program in Ohio. Keegan has worked for many artists and studios across the nation. His work is sculptural in nature. He focuses on glass and its ability to transform color and light through his sculptures. When not in a glassblowing studio, Keegan loves spending time outdoors in national parks, smoking meats, or just spending time with his wife and dog at home.

Glassblowing gaffer and shipping manager: Lauryl Sidwell
A Kansas City native, lauryl has a fascination with all things glass. Beginning her journey through stained glass creations, she hopes to learn all facets of glass-making. She has taken classes at Penland School of Craft and Belger Arts and always has her eyes open for the next class to learn new techniques. She also enjoys cooking and enjoying the sports teams of the area.

Glassblower: Justin Jenicke
A lamp-worker turned glassblower, Justin embraces glass and learning as many new things as possible about the material. He also enjoys the outdoors and chill time with friends.

Studio Assistant: Madison Jones
Coming from a background in kiln-formed glass, Madison has dabbled in a little bit of everything in most every material. Metal-working, ceramics, glasswork, you name it. If it is making something with her hands she is in. Her primary focus at Monarch Glass Studio is in the stained glass studio, assisting in cutting, grinding, and cementing. She also assists in the fabrication studio and hotshop. When not making work, Madison enjoys fine foods prepared well.

Studio Assistant: Tyler Suter
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Tyler gained a BA from Bowling Green University in Ohio. He moved to Kansas City, Missouri when awarded a year-long residency at Belger Arts at the Glass Annex. He works in the cold-shop and hotshop at Monarch Glass Studio. In his own work, he turns to patterns in sound vibrations and other unseen formats as inspiration in his glass work.

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.