Michael Patton started blowing glass in the Detroit area where he focused exclusively on technical skill building through the repetition of practicing historical forms. Initially, Michael assisted various glass artists and went on to work as an apprentice at the Greenfield Village glass factory, where he participated in reproducing early American glass. During this time, Michael also worked for a master glassblower who specialized in Venetian goblet making. Through these formative experiences, Michael increased his technical skills and broadened his knowledge of this seductive and historically rich material.

After leaving Michigan, Michael made the bold decision to relocate to California to pursue a formal education at the California College of the Arts. In this setting, Michael had access, time, and the creative space to cultivate his ideas and develop a personal aesthetic which lead him to experiment with metal, wood, natural materials, and scavenged industrial objects.

Michael draws from traditional glassblowing techniques to create innovative functional, decorative, and sculptural glasswork. Precise and intentional detail drive Michael’s refined design sense which results in a harmonious balance between color, proportion and form. Michael’s natural aptitude with spatial relations is present in the construction of his sculptures and in their presentation. Michael’s work explores the potential relationship between materials and presents a dialogue that compares and contrasts these materials with the subject matter they portray.