Claire Coffee’s glass work is inspired by many elements, people and locales, including the natural landscape and gardens of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Photos: Claire Coffee
An artist feeds her creative fire by listening and learning.
It began with an assignment at Minnetonka Middle School East (MME). Students were tasked with researching a topic they were interested in but knew little about. For Claire Coffee, the choice was clear—in a way. Her research project focused on glass art and led her to discover Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts in Minneapolis, where she encountered a community of mentors and now rents studio space.
After attending MME and three years at Minnetonka High School, Coffee graduated from Eden Prairie High School in 2020 and found her way to Corning, New York, where she is in the first of a two-year program at the Corning Museum of Glass’ Glassmaking Institute.
As she continues to develop and refine her creative path, how does Coffee describe her artistic stylings? “Wickedly whimsical,” she says, adding “deceptive” and highlighting properties often attributed to glass and women—“fragility and strength.” Coffee also defines her work as, “feminine and macabre,” for the latter pointing to her appreciation for a particular American filmmaker. “I want to be the Tim Burton of glass,” she says of the artist, known for leaning into dark fantasy and popularizing Goth culture in film.
Claire Coffee calls her artistic stylings “wickedly whimsical.” Photos: Chris Emeott
Artists don’t create in a vacuum, and Coffee leans into inspiration in a host of ways, including from Elliot Walker, winner of Netflix’s Blown Away 2, and local artists and her first instructors Jenn Justad and Alli Luhmann. But can one talk about glass art without mentioning Dale Chihuly? “I think of Chihuly as my glass history textbook,” she says, referring to him as “the grandfather of the American glass studio art movement.”
Participating in the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Auxiliary’s Arboretum Glass Pumpkin Patch for the last two years provides another incredible opportunity for Coffee to satiate her thirst for inspiration. Through the event, she rubs shoulders with seasoned glass artists, and Coffee appreciates the opportunity to glean valuable lessons from the talented team of creators. “They have opened my eyes to possibilities,” she says. “They can see colors in a way I can’t.”
When the northern climate forces flowers to rest for a time, glass florals brighten the world regardless of the month.
Is there a better place for Coffee to dive into her innate interest in botany than the arboretum where she searches for ways to replicate nature’s colors, shapes and textures? As examples, the orchids in the arboretum’s conservatory or a grouping of pink, jewel-toned flowers in one of the many gardens have offered artistic inspiration as have discussions with the arboretum’s gifted gardeners. “I think you can learn from anybody,” she says.
Coffee continues to define her work and is discovering ways in which her art is already making an impact. She points to a commission project that provided an emotional challenge. A woman asked for an urn to be made for the ashes of her 16-year-old sister, and the family wanted to witness its creation. In speaking with the family to gain an understanding of the deceased, Coffee says, “I did my best to bring her soul alive in glass.” The urn is adorned with flowers, which she researched to ensure that each variety meaningfully aligned with the girl. While presenting the family with the urn, she also provided a key to the meaning behind each flower and some early sketches of the design process. “I felt so drained and so fulfilled,” Coffee says.
Claire Coffee created a deeply personal urn, which is used for the remains of a 16-year-old girl. The artist shares the impact the making of the urn for the family had on her as an artist. Photo: Claire Coffee
While her artistic journey could be considered to be in its infancy, Coffee has come to understand that her art is already impactful on an emotional plane and through connections with those who purchase and appreciate her creations. And let’s not forget; this all started with a classroom assignment.
Art at the Arb
A pumpkin patch never looks so good as it does when the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Auxiliary hosts its Arboretum Glass Pumpkin Patch.
Never been? The sixth annual event is planned for later this year. (Visit arb.umn.edu for final details.)
For those who haven’t attended the Minnesota Landscape Aboretum Auxiliary Glass Pumpkin Patch, make a point to attend this year’s event. Not only do attendees view the stunning work of talented artists, they can also watch glass works in the making. This pumpkin was made with the help of an artist and our editor, Renée Stewart-Hester. Photos: Chris Emeott
If last year’s numbers are any indication, attendees can expect to view thousands of beautifully created glass pumpkins and other stunning glassworks. The 2025 event included nearly 6,500 pieces from 13 incredibly talented artists from around the country, including Claire Coffee. To help it all come together, volunteers devoted 1,300 hours over the course of seven days to set up and work the sale (not to mention the hours served in planning the event). Volunteers come from the arboretum, its auxiliary and corporate partners.
“The hard-working volunteers and talented artists look forward to working together in the Arboretum Glass Pumpkin Patch presented by the auxiliary,” says Martha Kissell, event chair. Working in the arboretum’s gorgeous surroundings isn’t the only benefit to volunteering. “It’s so fun to see the joy on the faces of the people when they see all the gorgeous glass surrounded by the arboretum gardens,” she says. “They know their purchase supports the arboretum and the artists. There is no other event like this in Minnesota.”
Firefly Glass Arts
Instagram: @fireflyglassarts
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Instagram: @mn_arboretum
